if we were terribly cut up because we hadn't been
asked to their party."

"Possibly. Whereas, I don't even consider it worth talking about."

We discussed the Mopworths and their party for another hour and a half,
and then went to bed.

* * * * *

"Lying awake last night," I said at breakfast next morning, "I couldn't
help thinking over the different things we have done for those
serpents."

"What serpents?"

"Those contemptible Mopworths. I wonder if they have any feelings of
shame? If they have, they must blush when they think of the way they
have treated us."

"I can't think why they've left us out. Perhaps it's a mistake."

"Not a bit of it. I've been expecting this for some time. Of course he
has made money. I don't say--I would rather _not_ say--how he has made
it. But it seems to have turned his head. However, after this I shall
probably never mention him again."

Eliza began to talk about the weather. I told her that Mopworth had
done things which, personally, I should have been very sorry to do, and
that I should be reluctant to adopt his loud style of dress.

"But, of course," I added, "no gentleman ever does dress like that."

Eliza said that if I intended to catch my train I had better start.

I started.

* * * * *

On my return I said to Eliza that, though the whole subject was
distasteful to me, there was one point to which I had given a few
moments' consideration. Reluctant though I was to sully my lips with
the name of Mopworth, I felt it a duty to myself to say that even if
the Mopworths had asked us to their annual party I should have refused
point-blank.

"Really?" said Eliza. This annoyed me slightly. She ought to have seen,
without being told, that it was impossible for people like us to
continue to know people like them.

"I am accustomed," I replied, "to say just exactly what I mean. As far
as I can remember, I have lately more than once asked you to drop the
Mopworths. If I have not actually done it, it has been in my mind to do
so. They are connected to us by marriage, and I am not unduly proud,
but still I feel that we must draw the line somewhere. I do not care to
have Mopworth bragging about the place that he is on intimate terms
with us."

"Well," said Eliza, "there aren't such a lot of people who ever ask us
to anything. Miss Sakers is friendly, of course, especially when there
are subs