It struck Joanna that Ellen was not very cordial.
"I believe you want to come," she said, "and I tell you, duckie, I'll try and manage it. It doesn't matter about Arthur not having proper clothes—I'll put 'evening dress optional' on the invitations."
"I shouldn't do that," said Ellen, and laughed in a way that made Joanna feel uncomfortable. "I really don't want to come in the least—it would be very dreary driving to and fro."
"Then what's the matter, dearie?"
"Matter? There's nothing the matter."
But Joanna knew that Ellen felt sore, and failing to discover the reason herself at last applied to Arthur Alce.
"If you ask me," said Arthur, "it's because she's only a farmer's wife."
"Why should that upset her all of a sudden?"
"Well, folks don't give her the consequence she'd like; and now she sees you having gentry at your table ..."
"I'd have had her at it too, only she didn't want to come, and you haven't got the proper clothes. Arthur, if you take my advice, you'll go into Lydd this very day and buy yourself an evening suit."