said nothing to her sisters; this reticence was part of the virtue it
was her idea to practise for them. SHE was to be their mother, a
direct deputy and representative. Before the vision of that other
woman parading in such a character she felt capable of ingenuities,
of deep diplomacies. The essence of these indeed was just
tremulously to watch her father. Five days after they had dined
together at Mrs. Churchley's he asked her if she had been to see that
lady.

"No indeed, why should I?" Adela knew that he knew she hadn't been,
since Mrs. Churchley would have told him.

"Don't you call on people after you dine with them?" said Colonel
Chart.

"Yes, in the course of time. I don't rush off within the week."

Her father looked at her, and his eyes were colder than she had ever
seen them, which was probably, she reflected, just the way hers
appeared to himself. "Then you'll please rush off to-morrow. She's
to dine with us on the 12th, and I shall expect your sisters to come
down."

Adela stared. "To a dinner-party?"

"It's not to be a dinner-party. I want them to know Mrs. Churchley."

"Is there to be nobody else?"

"Godfrey of course. A family party," he said with an assurance