"On Thursday," Sir Timothy assented. "I shall have something to
say to you about it later on."
"Am I to take it that I am likely to receive an invitation?"
Francis asked.
"I should think it possible," was the calm reply.
"What about Margaret?"
"My entertainment would not appeal to her," Sir Timothy declared.
"The women whom I have been in the habit of asking are not women
of Margaret's type."
"And Lady Cynthia?"
Sir Timothy frowned slightly.
"I find myself in some difficulty as regards Lady Cynthia," he
admitted. "I am the guardian of nobody's morals, nor am I the
censor of their tastes, but my entertainments are for men. The
women whom I have hitherto asked have been women in whom I have
taken no personal interest. They are necessary to form a
picturesque background for my rooms, in the same way that I look
to the gardeners to supply the floral decorations. Lady
Cynthia's instincts, however, are somewhat adventurous. She
would scarcely be content to remain a decoration."
"The issuing of your invitations," Francis remarked, "is of
course a matter which concerns nobody else except yourself. If
you do decide to favour me with one, I shall be delighted to
come, provided Margaret has no objection."
"Such a reservation promises well for the future," Sir Timothy
observed, with gentle sarcasm.
Pages:
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190