The restaurant seemed to be spinning round them;
and the bill when it appeared did nothing to restore their composure.
They were as nearly in tears as it is permissible to be during the
luncheon hour in a really good restaurant. Financially speaking, they
were well able to afford the luxury of an elaborate lunch, but their
ideas on the subject of entertaining differed very sharply, according to
the circumstances of whether they were dispensing or receiving
hospitality. To have fed themselves liberally at their own expense was,
perhaps, an extravagance to be deplored, but, at any rate, they had had
something for their money; to have drawn an unknown and socially
unremunerative Ellen Niggle into the net of their hospitality was a
catastrophe that they could not contemplate with any degree of calmness.
The Smithly-Dubbs never quite recovered from their unnerving experience.
They have given up politics and taken to doing good.
A BREAD AND BUTTER MISS
"Starling Chatter and Oakhill have both dropped back in the betting,"
said Bertie van Tahn, throwing the morning paper across the breakfast
table.
"That leaves Nursery Tea practically favourite," said Odo Finsberry.
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