These people had been invited because they were friends of the young couple, and not because they were anybody particular in the London social or political world, though one or two of the young men had claims in that direction.

Mingled with this very modern group were half a dozen representatives of old county families, who had been invited by Miss Heredith.
The party sat down to dinner.

There were one or two murmurs of conventional regret when Miss Heredith explained the reason of Mrs.
Heredith's vacant place, but the majority of the London guests--particularly the female portion--recognized the illness as a subterfuge and accepted it with indifference.

If Mrs.Heredith was bored with her guests they, on their part, were tired of their visit.

The house party had not been a success.