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should be invited. They need not stay the night. But there could be one or two from London who would have to, of course. But The Silk House was commodious enough. She grew quite excited planning it.
    I was commanded to bring her writing pad and paper. “Not that one. Lenore … the larger one in my bureau.” Finally we had the right pad and the right pen and the compilation of the list began.
    There was excitement throughout the house. I was to go to the party. Certain duties had been assigned to me.
    “You will look after the Barkers, Lenore,” said Lady Sallonger. “I don’t suppose anyone will want to talk to them … and I don’t think people like to feel neglected. It makes the party seem unsuccessful. Perhaps I should not have asked them. They are very, very rich … but it was all made out of building. People might forget that but Jack Barker won’t let them. He talks about property developments and decay in the industry all the time. I’m only asking them because we need the number and they are near enough to go home afterwards.”
    Grand’mere was in a state of uncertainty. Before she had known that I would be there she was thoughtful. “It will be a sign,” she said. “I want you to be there … I do so want you to be there.”
    So when I was told about the Barkers she was overjoyed.
    “I shall make you a dress, mon enfant. You shall have such a dress as will make you shine among them all.”
    “Julia wouldn’t like that,” I reminded her.
    “Oh, she would not know. She is lacking in style, that one. She does not know a perfection when she sees it. She is too fond of show and glitter … but that is not style. Oh no. That is not chic …”
    She did make me a dress. It was my first grown-up dress. It was in flame coloured silk, which suited my dark hair; it had a tight bodice and short puffed sleeves; the glory was in the skirt, which flared out from the waist in numerous flounces.
    There were tears in Grand’mere’s eyes when she fitted it on.
    “You look so like your mother,” she said. “I could almost believe …”
    I embraced her and said it was very grand, and it would be my favourite dress for the rest of my life.
    The evening came and the guests arrived. Lady Sallonger received them on her couch. She looked very regal when they came to bow to her. Charles and Philip were with her and Drake Aldringham, of course. It was all very splendid.
    It was to be a buffet supper and the tables were set out in the dining room. The musicians were already playing in the ballroom and Lady Sallonger had arrived there leaning heavily on Charles’s arm. She had seated herself to watch the dancing.
    I, of course, was with the Barkers. Mr. Barker talked all the time about his business. Mrs. Barker said very little; she sat arms folded over her ample stomach looking like a Chinese Buddha and watching her husband as though the words which came from his ever-open mouth were some divine gospel.
    Still, it was fun to be there. I learned of the difference between building with bricks and with stones, of the difficulty there was to find workmen who knew their jobs, and how people did not work as they used to with all this talk of reform. Things had started to decline since every Tom, Dick and Harry could get the vote.
    I was not paying very much attention but I took my cue from Mrs. Barker and just assumed an air of respectful absorption while my mind wandered.
    I saw Drake Aldringham with Julia. Cassie was seated beside her mother. She could not dance because of her leg. Poor Cassie, I thought, she did not enjoy such occasions very much.
    Charles looked in my direction and I was amazed when he sauntered over.
    “Good evening, Mr. Barker, Mrs. Barker,” he said. “I hope you are enjoying the occasion.”
    “Splendid, splendid,” replied Mr. Barker. “This is a finely proportioned room. They knew what they were doing when they built this place.”
    “I’ll grant you that,” said Charles, giving me a