"But ISN'T it ?" "My dear friend, you must ask Van.

Of course you've always thought so.

But I must tell you all the same," Mrs.Brook went on, "that I'm delighted." Mitchy had seated himself, but Vanderbank remained erect and became perhaps even slightly stiff.

He was not angry--no member of the inner circle at Buckingham Crescent was ever angry--but he looked grave and rather troubled.

"Even if it IS decidedly fine"-- he addressed his hostess straight--"I can't make out quite why you're doing THIS--I mean immediately making it known." "Ah but what do we keep from Mitchy ?" Mrs.Brook asked.
"What CAN you keep?
It comes to the same thing," Mitchy said.