Page:Herbert Jenkins - The Rain Girl.djvu/121

 of her hearers the impression that the porridge as well as Mr. Quelch was possessed of psychic qualities.

"I'm afraid it's a breakfast-party," lied Beresford glibly. "I have asked some friends to meet my cousin, some Americans," he added, thinking to impress Mrs. Crisp by giving to the engagement an international flavour.

"So wonderful," burst forth Mrs. Crisp, "they really think they won the war. Everybody seems to have won the war, except of course the Germans. Such nice people. Americans I mean. So psychic. Mr. Wilson, too, I hear he means to be Emperor. Mr. Quelch likes Americans. He says, I forget exactly what it was. It was very clever. They live on such funny things, grape-fruit and ice-water, and divorce costs hardly anything. So nice for the servants. I mean the grape-fruit and ice-water. So you'll explain, Mr. Berry, won't you?"

Mrs. Crisp turned to Beresford with what she probably meant to be an arch look. "You will, won't you?" To Drewitt she continued, "I'll take no denial. Lola would never forgive me. She would be so disappointed. I hate disappointing her. This morning I promised her soles. They hadn't any. So annoying of them. Do you like soles, Lord Drewitt?"

"With me it is a matter of spelling."

"Oh, I see. I can't spell either. Isn't it strange. I always spell lose with two 'o's.' '