herself
from Lady Eustace and Mrs. Leslie, informing her that they would
have very much pleasure in dining with her on the day named. And
Lady Eustace went on to say, with much pleasantry, that she always
regarded little parties, got up without any ceremony, as being the
pleasantest, and that she should come on this occasion without any
ceremonial observance. Then Emily was aware that her husband had not
only written the notes in her name, but had put into her mouth some
studied apology as to the shortness of the invitation. Well! She was
the man's wife, and she supposed that he was entitled to put any
words that he pleased into her mouth.

CHAPTER XLVIII

"Has He Ill-treated You?"

Lopez relieved his wife from all care as to provision for his guests.
"I've been to a shop in Wigmore Street," he said, "and everything
will be done. They'll send in a cook to make the things hot, and your
father won't have to pay even for a crust of bread."

"Papa doesn't mind paying for anything," she said in her indignation.

"It is all very pretty for you to say so, but my experience of him
goes just the other way. At any rate there will be nothing to be paid
for. Stewam and Sugarscraps will send in everything, if you'll only
tell the old fogies downstairs not to interfere." Then she made a
little request. Might she ask Everett, who was now in town? "I've
already got Major Pountney and Captain Gunner," he said. She pleaded
that one more would make no difference. "But that's just what one
more always does. It destroys everything, and turns a pretty little
dinner into an awkward feed. We won't have him this time. Pountney'll
take you, and I'll take her ladyship. Dick will take Mrs. Leslie, and
Gunner will have Aunt Harriet. Dick will sit opposite to me, and the
four ladies will sit at the four corners. We shall be very pleasant,
but one more would spoil us."

She did speak to the "old fogies" downstairs,--the housekeeper, who
had lived with her father since she was a child, and the butler, who
had been there still longer, and the cook, who, having been in her
place only three years, resigned impetuously within half-an-hour
after the advent of Mr. Sugarscraps' head man. The "fogies" were
indignant. The butler expressed his intention of locking himself up
in his own peculiar pantry, and the housekeeper took upon herself to
tell her young mistress that "Master wouldn't like it." Since she had
known Mr. Wharton such a thing as