It was Lady Crowan, a tiresome gushing woman who lived in Kerrith, who introduced the matter.
There was one of those pauses in conversation that happen in every teaparty, and I saw Frank's lips about to form the inevitable and idiotic remark about an angel passing overhead, when Lady Crowan, balancing a piece of cake on the edge of her saucer, looked up at Maxim who happened to be beside her.
'Oh, Mr de Winter,' she said, 'there is something I've been wanting to ask you for ages.
Now tell me, is there any chance of you reviving the Manderley fancy dress ball?'
She put her head on one side as she spoke, flashing her too prominent teeth in what she supposed was a smile.
I lowered my head instantly, and became very busy with the emptying of my own teacup, screening myself behind the cosy.
It was a moment or two before Maxim replied, and when he did his voice was quite calm and matter-of-fact.
'I haven't thought about it,' he said, 'and I don't think anyone else has.'
'Oh, but I assure you we have all thought of it so much,' continued Lady Crowan.
'It used to make the summer for all of us in this part of the world.
You have no idea of the pleasure it used to give.
Can't I persuade you to think about it again?'
'Well, I don't know,' said Maxim drily.
'It was all rather a business to organise.
You had better ask Frank Crawley, he'd have to do it.'
'Oh, Mr Crawley, do be on my side,' she persisted, and one or two of the others joined in.
'It would be a most popular move, you know, we all miss the Manderley gaiety.'
I heard Frank's quiet voice beside me.
'I don't mind organising the ball if Maxim has no objection to giving it.
It's up to him and Mrs de Winter. It's nothing to do with me.'
Of course I was bombarded at once.
Lady Crowan moved her chair so that the cosy no longer hid me from view.
'Now, Mrs de Winter, you get round your husband.
You are the person he will listen to.
He should give the ball in your honour as the bride.'
'Yes, of course,' said somebody else, a man.
'We missed the fun of the wedding, you know; it's a shame to deprive us of all excitement.
Hands up for the Manderley fancy dress ball.
There you see, de Winter?
Carried unanimously.'
There was much laughter and clapping of hands.
Maxim lit a cigarette and his eyes met mine over the teapot.
'What do you think about it?' he said.
'I don't know,' I said uncertainly.
'I don't mind.'
'Of course she longs to have a ball in her honour,' gushed Lady Crowan.
'What girl wouldn't?
You'd look sweet, Mrs de Winter, dressed as a little Dresden shepherdess, your hair tucked under a big three-cornered hat.'
I thought of my clumsy hands and feet and the slope of my shoulders.
A fine Dresden shepherdess I should make!
What an idiot the woman was.
I was not surprised when nobody agreed with her, and once more I was grateful to Frank for turning the conversation away from me.
'As a matter of fact, Maxim, someone was talking about it the other day.
"I suppose we shall be having some sort of celebration for the bride, shan't we, Mr Crawley?" he said.
"I wish Mr de Winter would give a ball again.
It was rare fun for all of us."
It was Tucker at the home farm,' he added, to Lady Crowan.
'Of course they do adore a show of any kind.
I don't know, I told him.
Mr de Winter hasn't said anything to me.'