Probably with such a small
party she will."
"Oh, I shouldn't count on that," said he. "We are having some tableaux,
and they always take longer than you think. Dear me, I shouldn't have
said that, as they were to be impromptu, but I really believe my head
is going. You know how thorough Lucia is; she is taking a great deal of
trouble about them."
"I hadn't heard about that," said Mrs Quantock.
She thought a moment.
"Well; I don't want to spoil Lucia's evening," she said, "for I'm sure
nothing could be so ridiculous as three people doing tableaux for two
others. And on the other hand, I don't want her to spoil mine, for
what's to prevent her going on with the tableaux till church-time next
morning if she wishes to keep Miss Bracely away from my house? I'm sure
after the way she behaved about my Guru---- Well, never mind that. How
would it be if we had the tableaux first at Lucia's, and then came on
here? If Lucia cares to suggest that to me, and my guests consent, I
don't mind doing that."
By six o'clock on Tuesday evening therefore all the telephone bells of
Riseholme were merrily ringing again. Mrs Quantock stipulated that
Lucia's party should end at 10.45 precisely, if it didn't end before,
and that everyone should then be free to flock across to her house. She
proposed a romp that should even outshine Olga's, and was deep in the
study of a manual of "Round Games," which included "Hunt the
Slipper.
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