"I'm sure it will be awfully jolly, Mrs. Blithers. What did you say?"     

       "I beg pardon?"     

       "I'm sorry. I was speaking to the Prince. He just called up stairs to me."     

       "What does he say?"     

       "It was really nothing. He was asking about Hobbs."     

       "Hobbs? Tell him, please, that if he has any friends he would like to have invited we shall be only too proud to—"     

       "Oh, thank you! I'll tell him."     

       "You must not let him go away before—"     

       "I shall try my best, Mrs. Blithers. It is awfully kind of you to ask us to—"     

       "You must all come up to dinner either to-morrow night or the night after. I shall be so glad if you will suggest anything that can help us to make the ball a success. You see, I know how terribly clever you are, Mrs. King."     

       "I am dreadfully stupid."     

       "Nonsense!"     

       "I'm sorry to say we're dining out to-morrow night and on Thursday we are having some people here for—"     

       "Can't you bring them all up to Blitherwood? We'd be delighted to have them, I'm sure."     

       "I'm afraid I couldn't manage it. They—well, you see, they are in mourning."     

       "Oh, I see. Well, perhaps Maud and I could run in and see you for a few minutes to-morrow or next day, just to talk things over a little—what's that, Maud? I beg your pardon, Mrs. King. Ahem! Well, I'll call you up to-morrow, if you don't mind being bothered about a silly old ball. Good-bye. Thank you so much."     

       Mrs. King confronted Robin in the lower hall a few seconds later and roundly berated him for shouting up the steps that Hobbs ought to be       

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