The Limit

"Romer, are you listening?" "Valentia, do I ever do anything else?" "I've almost decided and absolutely made up my mind that it will look ever so much better if you don't go with me to Harry's dinner after all." "Really?" "Yes. We two-you and I-always seem to make such an enormous family party! Of course, I know we have to go about in these huge batches sometimes-to your mother, and that sort of thing, but in this case it will look better not." Valentia made this rather ungracious suggestion, looking so pretty, so serious, and yet with such a conciliating smile that it would have been almost impossible for even the most touchy person to have been offended.