Ask Mrs.Toplady to introduce Mr.
Roach--he dines with us on the 27th." To make sure of the M.P., Lashmar invited him verbally, and received a dreamy acceptance--so dreamy that he resolved to send a note, to remind Mr.Roach of the engagement.
"So you are to be one of us, at Mr.Lashmar's dinner," said the hostess to Mrs.Woolstan.

"A delightful evening--won't it be!" And she watched the eager little face with eyes which read its every line remorselessly: her smile more pitiless in ironic mischief even than of wont.
On the morning of May the 28th, Lashmar wrote a full letter to Rivenoak.

It told of a dinner successful beyond his hopes.

Mrs.Toplady had surpassed herself in brilliant graciousness; Lord Dymchurch had broken through his reserve, and talked remarkably--most remarkably.

"As for the host, why, he did what in him lay, and Mrs.Toplady was good enough to remark, as he handed her into her carriage, 'A few more dinners such as this, and all London will want to know the--' I won't finish her sentence.