"I am not in the habit of throwing people over!"
There was a sound of footsteps and June saw Soames standing just behind her.
"Well! if you are all ready," said Irene, looking from one to the other with a strange smile, "dinner is too!"
CHAPTER II—JUNE'S TREAT
Dinner began in silence; the women facing one another, and the men.
In silence the soup was finished—excellent, if a little thick; and fish was brought.
In silence it was handed.
Bosinney ventured:
"It's the first spring day."
Irene echoed softly:
"Yes—the first spring day."
"Spring!" said June: "there isn't a breath of air!"
No one replied.
The fish was taken away, a fine fresh sole from Dover.
And Bilson brought champagne, a bottle swathed around the neck with white....
Soames said:
"You'll find it dry."
Cutlets were handed, each pink-frilled about the legs.
They were refused by June, and silence fell.
Soames said:
"You'd better take a cutlet, June; there's nothing coming."
But June again refused, so they were borne away.
And then Irene asked:
"Phil, have you heard my blackbird?"
Bosinney answered:
"Rather—he's got a hunting-song.
As I came round I heard him in the Square."
"He's such a darling!"
"Salad, sir?"
Spring chicken was removed.
But Soames was speaking:
"The asparagus is very poor.
Bosinney, glass of sherry with your sweet?
June, you're drinking nothing!"
June said:
"You know I never do.
Wine's such horrid stuff!"
An apple charlotte came upon a silver dish, and smilingly Irene said:
"The azaleas are so wonderful this year!"
To this Bosinney murmured:
"Wonderful!
The scent's extraordinary!"
June said:
"How can you like the scent?
Sugar, please, Bilson."
Sugar was handed her, and Soames remarked:
"This charlottes good!"
The charlotte was removed.
Long silence followed.
Irene, beckoning, said: