e knew beforehand--somehow--that it wasn't just an
Oxford party. And Lady Dashwood won't do anything for us."

"It's not been worth the taxi," said Harding.

"I wish you'd not made that mistake about Miss Scott," said Mrs.
Harding, after a moment's silence.

"How could I help it?" blurted Harding. "Scott's a common name. How on
earth could I tell--and coming from Oxford!"

"Yes, but you could see she powdered, and her dress! Besides, coming
with the Dashwoods and knowing Mrs. Potten!" continued Mrs. Harding. "If
only you had said one or two sentences to her; I saw she was offended.
That's why she ran off with Mrs. Dashwood, she wouldn't be left to your
tender mercies. I saw Lady Dashwood staring."

Harding made no answer, he merely blew through his pursed-up mouth.

"And we've got Boreham dining with us next Thursday!" he said after a
pause. "Damn it all!"

"No. I didn't leave the note," said Mrs. Harding. "I thought I'd 'wait
and see.'"

"Good!" said Harding.

"It was a nuisance," said Mrs. Harding, "that we asked the Warden of
King's when the Bishop was here and got a refusal. We can't ask the
Dashwoods and Miss Scott even quietly. It's for the Warden to ask us."

"Anyhow ask Bingham," said Harding; "just casually."

Mrs. Harding looked surprised. "Why, I thought you couldn't stick him,"
she said; "and he hasn't been near us for a couple of years at least."

"Yes, but----"

"Very well," said Mrs. Harding. "And meanwhile I've got Lady Dashwood to
lend me Miss Scott for our Sale to-morrow! And shall I ask them to tea?
We are so near that it would seem the natural thing to do."

CHAPTER X

PARENTAL EFFUSIONS

"Well, May," said Lady Dashwood, leaning back into her corner and
speaking in a voice of satisfaction, "we've done our duty, I hope, and
now, if you don't mind, we'll go on doing our duty and pay some calls. I
ought to call at St. John's and Wadham, and also go into the suburbs.
I've asked Mr. Bingham to dinner--just by ourselves, of course. Do you
know what his nickname is in Oxford?"

May did not know.

"It is: 'It depends on what you mean,'" said Lady Dashwood.

"Oh!" said May. "Yes, in the Socratic manner."

"I dare say," said Lady Dashwood. "What did you think of the Hardings?"

May said she didn't know.

"They are a type one finds everywhere," said Lady Dashwood.

The afternoon passed slowly away. It was the busy desolation of the
city, a willing sacrifice to the needs of w