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〃But whom shall we invite？〃
〃Why； Harold and Charles of course。〃
〃And the Admiral and Mrs。 Hay Denver？〃
〃Oh； no。 That would be very old…fashioned。 We must keep up with
the times； Clara。〃
〃But what can we give them for supper？〃
〃Oh； something with a nice； fast； rollicking； late…at…night…kind of
flavor to it。 Let me see！ Champagne； of courseand oysters。
Oysters will do。 In the novels； all the naughty people take champagne
and oysters。 Besides； they won't need any cooking。 How is your
pocket…money； Clara？〃
〃I have three pounds。〃
〃And I have one。 Four pounds。 I have no idea how much
champagne costs。 Have you？〃
〃Not the slightest。〃
〃How many oysters does a man eat？〃
〃I can't imagine。〃
〃I'll write and ask Charles。 No； I won't。 I'll ask Jane。 Ring for her；
Clara。 She has been a cook； and is sure to know。
Jane； on being cross…questioned； refused to commit herself beyond the
statement that it depended upon the gentleman； and also upon the oysters。
The united experience of the kitchen； however； testified that three dozen
was a fair provision。
〃Then we shall have eight dozen altogether； said Ida； jotting down all
her requirements upon a sheet of paper。 〃And two pints of champagne。
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And some brown bread； and vinegar； and pepper。 That's all； I think。 It
is not so very difficult to give a supper after all； is it； Clara？〃
〃I don't like it； Ida。 It seems to me to be so very indelicate。〃
〃But it is needed to clinch the matter。 No； no； there is no drawing
back now； Clara； or we shall ruin everything。 Papa is sure to come back
by the 9：45。 He will reach the door at 10。 We must have everything
ready for him。 Now； just sit down at once； and ask Harold to come at
nine o'clock； and I shall do the same to Charles。〃
The two invitations were dispatched； received and accepted。 Harold
was already a confidant； and he understood that this was some further
development of the plot。 As to Charles； he was so accustomed to
feminine eccentricity； in the person of his aunt； that the only thing which
could surprise him would be a rigid observance of etiquette。 At nine
o'clock they entered the dining…room of Number 2； to find the master of
the house absent； a red…shaded lamp； a snowy cloth； a pleasant little feast；
and the two whom they would have chosen； as their companions。 A
merrier party never met； and the house rang with their laughter and their
chatter。
〃It is three minutes to ten；〃 cried Clara； suddenly； glancing at the
clock。
〃Good gracious！ So it is！ Now for our little tableau！〃 Ida pushed
the champagne bottles obtrusively forward； in the direction of the door；
and scattered oyster shells over the cloth。
〃Have you your pipe； Charles？〃
〃My pipe！ Yes。〃
〃Then please smoke it。 Now don't argue about it； but do it； for you
will ruin the effect otherwise。〃
The large man drew out a red case； and extracted a great yellow
meerschaum； out of which； a moment later； he was puffing thick wreaths
of smoke。 Harold had lit a cigar； and both the girls had cigarettes。
〃That looks very nice and emancipated；〃 said Ida； glancing round。
〃Now I shall lie on this sofa。 So！ Now； Charles； just sit here； and throw
your arm carelessly over the back of the sofa。 No； don't stop smoking。
I like it。 Clara； dear； put your feet upon the coal…scuttle； and do try to
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look a little dissipated。 I wish we could crown ourselves with flowers。
There are some lettuces on the sideboard。 Oh dear； here he is！ I hear
his key。〃 She began to sing in her high； fresh voice a little snatch from a
French song； with a swinging tra la…la chorus。
The Doctor had walked home from the station in a peaceable and
relenting frame of mind； feeling that； perhaps； he had said too much in the
morning； that his daughters had for years been models in every way； and
that； if there had been any change of late； it was； as they said themselves；
on account of their anxiety to follow his advice and to imitate Mrs。
Westmacott。 He could see clearly enough now that that advice was
unwise； and that a world peopled with Mrs。 Westmacotts would not be a
happy or a soothing one。 It was he who was； himself； to blame； and he
was grieved by the thought that perhaps his hot words had troubled and
saddened his two girls。
This fear； however； was soon dissipated。 As he entered his hall he
heard the voice of Ida uplifted in a rollicking ditty； and a very strong smell
of tobacco was borne to his nostrils。 He threw open the dining…room
door； and stood aghast at the scene which met his eyes。
The room was full of the blue wreaths of smoke； and the lamp…light
shone through the thin haze upon gold…topped bottles； plates； napkins； and
a litter of oyster shells and cigarettes。 Ida； flushed and excited； was
reclining upon the settee； a wine…glass at her elbow； and a cigarette
between her fingers； while Charles Westmacott sat beside her； with his arm
thrown over the head of the sofa； with the suggestion of a caress。 On the
other side of the room； Clara was lounging in an arm…chair； with Harold
beside her； both smoking； and both with wine…glasses beside them。 The
Doctor stood speechless in the doorway； staring at the Bacchanalian scene。
〃Come in； papa！ Do！〃 cried Ida。 〃Won't you have a glass of
champagne？〃
〃Pray excuse me；〃 said her father； coldly； 〃I feel that I am intruding。
I did not know that you were entertaining。 Perhaps you will kindly let me
know when you have finished。 You will find me in my study。〃 He
ignored the two young men completely； and； closing the door； retired；
deeply hurt and mortified； to his room。 A quarter of an hour afterwards
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he heard the door slam； and his two daughters came to announce that the
guests were gone。
〃Guests！ Whose guests？〃 he cried angrily。 〃What is the meaning of
this exhibition？〃
〃We have been giving a little supper； papa。 They were our guests。〃
〃Oh； indeed！〃 The Doctor laughed sarcastically。 〃You think it right；
then； to entertain young bachelors late at night； to； smoke and drink with
them； to Oh； that I should ever have lived to blush for my own
daughters！ I thank God that your dear mother never saw the day。〃
〃Dearest papa；〃 cried Clara； throwing her arms about him。 〃Do not
be angry with us。 If you understood all； you would see that there is no
harm in it。〃
〃No harm； miss！ Who is the best judge of that？〃
〃Mrs。 Westmacott；〃 suggested Ida； slyly。
The Doctor sprang from his chair。 〃Confound Mrs。 Westmacott！〃 he
cried； striking frenziedly into the air with his hands。 〃Am I to hear of
nothing but this woman？ Is she to confront me at every turn？ I will
endure it no longer。〃
〃But it was your wish； papa。〃
〃Then I will tell you now what my second and wiser wish is； and we
shall see if you will obey it as you have the first。〃
〃Of course we will； papa。〃
〃Then my wish is； that you should forget these odious notions which
you have imbibed； that you should dress and act as you used to do； before
ever you saw this woman； and that； in future； you confine your intercourse
with her to such civilities as are necessary between neighbors。〃
〃We are to give up Mrs。 Westmacott？〃
〃Or give up me。〃
〃Oh； dear dad； how can you say anything so cruel？〃 cried Ida；
burrowing her towsy gold