Miss Verinder insisted on an assurance that the unlicensed interviews should cease forthwith, and it was given to her by both of them. She said it was necessary that she should feel on this firm ground before she approached Mr. Parker. She for her part promised to begin the attack at once.
“Mildred, could you get me asked to dinner informally?”
“Rather,” said Mildred. “They’ll jump for joy. They’re getting rather stuffy because you always refuse.”
“Then the sooner the better, dear”; and Miss Verinder smiled. “Don’t be surprised if I seem a little artful—or even disingenuous. I think, just at first, I’ll not say I know anything of your partiality for Mr. Beckett—or for Alwyn, if I may take the liberty of calling him by his Christian name.”
“I should adore it,” said Alwyn.
“It is all Christian names nowadays, isn’t it?” and Emmie smiled again. “Then, as I say, I’ll open a masked gambit for Mr. Parker to play to. You see, the great thing is to get him accustomed to the idea.”
“What a dear funny old bird she is,” said Alwyn, when he and Mildred were outside the door in Oratory Gardens.
“She’s divinely kind,” said Mildred with enthusiasm.
As she had predicted, there was no difficulty in regard to Miss Verinder’s invitation.
“But are you sure she won’t expect a regular party?” asked Mr. Parker.