Only Amalia Wolfstein, who had never succeeded in
getting an invitation to Arkell House, remarked that "It was probably the
champagne's fault. She had always noticed that where the host and hostess
were dry the champagne was apt to be sweet."
Yes, Fritz had made it safe, but:
Circumstances presently woke in Lady Holme's mind a rather disagreeable
suspicion that though Fritz had "come round" with such an admirable
promptitude he had reserved to himself a right to retaliate, that he
perhaps presumed to fancy that her defiant action, and its very public
and unpleasant result, gave to him a greater license than he had
possessed before.
Some days after the early morning tea Lord Holme said to his wife:
"I say, Vi, we've got nothing on the first, have we?"
There was a perceptible pause before she replied.
"Yes, we have. We've accepted a dinner at Brayley House."
Lord Holme looked exceedingly put out.
"Brayley House. What rot!" he exclaimed. "I hate those hind-leg affairs.
Why on earth did you accept it?"
"Dear boy, you told me to. But why?"
"Why what?"
"Why are you so anxious to be free for the first?"
"Well, it's Miss Schley's /debut/ at the British. Everyone's goin' and
Laycock says--"
"I'm not very interested in Mr. Laycock's aphorisms, Fritz. I prefer
yours, I truly do."
"Oh, well, I'm as good as Laycock, I know. Still--"
"You're a thousand times better. And so everybody's going, on Miss
Schley's first night? I only wish we could, but we can't.
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