CHAPTER XXII

Mrs. Theodore Hastings was forty-eight years old, which her friends said was the reason why her mansion on Fifth Avenue was furnished and lit with the delicate sombreness of an old Italian palace. There was about it none of the garishness, the almost resplendent brilliancy associated with the abodes of many of our neighbours. Although her masseuse confidently assured her that she looked twenty-eight, Mrs. Hastings preferred not to put the matter to the test. She received her carefully selected dinner guests in a great library with cedarwood walls, furnished with almost Victorian sobriety, and illuminated by myriads of hidden lights. Pamela, being a relative, received the special consideration of an affectionately bestowed embrace.

"Pamela, my child, wasn't it splendid I heard that you were in New York!" she exclaimed. "Quite by accident, too. I think you treat your relatives shamefully."

Her niece laughed.

"Well, anyhow, you're the first of them I've seen at all, and directly Jim told me he was coming to you, I made him ring up in case you had room for me."

"Jimmy was a dear," Mrs. Hastings declared, "and, of course, there couldn't be a time when there wouldn't be room for you. Even now, at the last moment, though, I haven't quite made up my mind where to put you. Choose, dear. Will you have a Western bishop or a rather dull Englishman?"

"What is the name of the Englishman?" Pamela asked, with sudden intuition.

"Lutchester, dear. Quite a nice name, but I know nothing about him. He brought letters to your uncle. Rather a queer time for Englishmen to be travelling about, we thought, but still, there he is. Seems to have found some people he knows--and I declare he is coming towards you!"

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. How old was Mrs. Hastings?
2. Who thought she looked twenty years younger?
3. Where did she live?
4. On which street?
5. Where did she host dinner?
6. Did she choose her guests carefully?
7. Which relative did she invite?
8. How is she related?
9. Did they hug?
10. What choice of men was offered to Pamela?
11. Which one piqued Pamela's interest?
12. What is his name?
13. How had he and Mrs. Hastings met?
14. Were they well acquainted?
15. Did Pamela tell her aunt she would be in New York?
16. How did Mrs. Hastings find out?
1. forty-eight
2. her masseuse
3. A mansion.
4. Fifth Avenue
5. a great library
6. Yes.
7. Pamela
8. Her niece
9. Yes.
10. a Western bishop or a rather dull Englishman
11. the Englishman
12. Lutchester
13. He brought letters to Pamela's uncle
14. No.
15. No.
16. by accident