"Oh, but I mustn't, and I won't," said Drusilla, shaking her head
obstinately. "I most froze at some of them places, and I won't risk
it again. I won't make calls. They can come to me, Miss Thornton, but
I won't go back."

"But they won't come to see you if you don't return the calls."

"Well, they can stay at home then--it ain't much loss on either side."

"But what will you do?"

"I'll send William to know when they are out, and he can leave my
cards jest as well as I can. I won't go into them rooms and drink tea
out of my lap and eat with my gloves on, and talk about things I
don't know nothin' about and don't care even if I did. I'm too old to
begin such foolishness."

"But what will I tell them when they ask why you don't return their
calls?"

"You can tell them anything you want to. I _won't_ go."

Daphne said mischievously: "I'll say you are a _very_ old lady,
and _feeble_, and cannot take the exertion of making calls."

Drusilla sat up very straight and a slight flush appeared on her
cheeks.

"You'll say _no_ such thing, Daphne Thornton. You say the truth, that