'Put off the ... what are you talking about?'

'Oh, nothing. The Duke of St Leonard's is giving a dinner at the club
tomorrow, and I was going. But I can arrange to get out of it.'

'Charles! I never heard of anything so absurd! You must certainly go to
the dinner. How like you! How casual of you! For a mere trifle to offend
the man who might be of the greatest use to you--politically.'

'Politically! What do you mean? And it isn't a trifle when you've set
your mind on going away tomorrow. I know you hate to change your
plans, my dear.'

'Certainly I do, but I shall not change my plans. I shall go down
tomorrow, and you can join me on Friday.'

'Oh, I don't think I'll do that,' said Sir Charles, rather
half-heartedly. 'Why should you take the journey alone?'

'But I shall not be alone. I shall have Danvers with me. You need have
no anxiety. I beg of you, I _insist_, that you stay, and go to
this dinner.'

'Well, of course, if you make a point of it--'

She smiled, well pleased at having got her own way, as she supposed.

'That's right, Charles. Then you'll come down on Friday.'

'By the early train,' said Sir Charles.