Publisher's Synopsis
Violet agreed, though she did not seem exactly convinced, and Julia created a diversion by saying- -Twelve is rather an awkward time. A quarter of an hour with father, five minutes-no, ten-with you, half an hour with Violet, altogether brings it very near lunch time.- -Mr. Frazer will, of course, lunch with us to-morrow, - Mrs. Polkington said, as if stray guests to lunch were the most usual and convenient thing in the world. The Polkingtons kept up a good many of their farces in private life; most of them found it easier, as well as pleasanter, to do so. -The cold beef, - Mrs. Polkington said, mentally reviewing her larder, -can be hashed; that and a small boned loin of mutton will do, he would naturally expect to be treated as one of the family; fortunately the apple tart has not been cut-with a little cream-- -I thought we were to have the tart to-night, - Julia interrupted, thinking of Johnny Gillat, who was coming to spend the evening with her father.
