CHAPTER XI

"My dears," Lady Amesbury said, as she stood surrounded by her guests on the hearth rug of her drawing-room, "you know what my Sunday night dinner parties are--all sorts and plenty of them, and never a dull man or a plain woman if I can help it. To-night I've got a new man. He's not much to look at, but they tell me he's a multimillionaire and making all the poor people of the country miserable. He's doing something about making bread dearer. I never did understand these things."

"Heavens, you don't mean Peter Phipps!" Sarah exclaimed.

"His very name," her aunt declared. "How did you guess it, my dear? Here he is. Be quiet, all of you, and watch Grover announce him. He's such a snob--Grover. He hates a Mister, anyhow, and 'Peter Phipps' will dislocate his tongue."

Lady Amesbury was disappointed. Grover had marched with the times, and the presence of a millionaire made itself felt. His announcement was sonorous and respectful. Mr. Peter Phipps made his bow to his hostess under completely auspicious circumstances.

"So kind of you not to forget, Mr. Phipps," she murmured. "My Sunday parties are always _viva voce_ invitations, and what between not remembering whom I've asked, and not knowing whether those I've asked will remember, I generally find it horribly difficult to arrange the places. We are all right tonight, though. Only two missing. Who are they, Sarah?"

"Josephine and Mr. Wingate," Sarah replied, with a covert glance at Phipps.

"Of course! And thank goodness, here they are! Together, too! If there's anything I love, it's to start one of my dinners with a scandal. Josephine, did you bring Mr. Wingate or did he bring you?"

Based on the article and the following list of answers, write a list of questions.

1. Lady Amesbury
2. In her drawing room
3. Sunday
4. Dull men or plain women
5. Peter Phipps
6. No
7. He was a multimillionaire
8. Sarah
9. Yes
10. No
11. Grover
12. Snob
13. No
14. He bowed
15. Josephine and Wingate
16. Yes
17. She liked scandal
1. Who addressed the crowd?
2. Where were they?
3. On what night were they meeting?
4. Who was normally not invited to her parties?
5. Who was the new guest?
6. Was he handsome?
7. Why was he invited, then?
8. Who is shocked by the announcement?
9. Is she related to Lady Amesbury?
10. Did she seem happy to hear Peter was coming?
11. Who announced his arrival?
12. How did Lady Amesbury describe him?
13. Was his introduction rude?
14. How did Peter greet Lady Amesbury?
15. Which two guests arrived together?
16. Was Lady Amesbury excited to see them?
17. Why?