“How can you help it, my dear?” said Mrs. Lyman, in the tone of one bewailing a great hardship. “You give such offence if you decline.”
“I decline whenever it suits me,” replied Miss Appleton, “and people bear the disappointment very philosophically,” she added, smiling.
“You may well say that, Emma,” said Mrs. Fortesque, with an emphasis meant at Mrs. Lyman. “Society is so large now that I at least never find offence is taken when I decline.”
“But you cannot refuse a first invitation,” pursued Mrs. Lyman. “Now the Elliots for instance. They have just called upon us, we could not decline. Are you going to Hammersley’s to-morrow, Emma?”
“No,” said Emma, “we are not invited. Are you?”
“Yes; it’s a small party. We shall go there first and afterwards to Lascelles’.”
“I saw you all at the opera on Monday,” remarked Emma.
“Yes, we were there the first two acts—we went from there to Shaw’s. By the way, did you call upon the bride yesterday?”
“No,” replied Emma. “I have never visited the Halseys.”
“But as Hamilton’s friends,” pursued Mrs. Lyman, “I called on his account.”