"Yes, my dear, I've made up my mind. I'm going to give a dinner-party--a late dinner-party. I shall ask the people to come at seven, and then not have dinner till the quarter, so as there'll be no chance of the food being kept waiting. I shall have soup and meat and a pudding, and wine to drink." "Who are you going to invite?" asked Ellen, with a curl of her lip. "Why, didn't I tell you? Sir Harry Trevor's coming back to North Farthing next month. Mrs. Tolhurst got it from Peter Crouch, who had it from the Woolpack yesterday. He's coming down with his married sister, Mrs. Williams, and I'll ask Mr. Pratt, so as there'll be two gentlemen and two ladies. I'd ask you, Ellen, only I know Arthur hasn't got an evening suit." "Thanks. I don't care about dinner-parties. Who's going to do your waiting?" "Mene Tekel. She's going to wear a cap, and stand in the room all the time." "I hope that you'll be able to hear yourselves talk through her breathing." It struck Joanna that Ellen was not very cordial. "I believe you want to come," she said, "and I tell you, duckie, I'll try and manage it. It doesn't matter about Arthur not having proper clothes--I'll put 'evening dress optional' on the invitations." "I shouldn't do that," said Ellen, and laughed in a way that made Joanna feel uncomfortable. "I really don't want to come in the least--it would be very dreary driving to and fro." "Then what's the matter, dearie?" "Matter? There's nothing the matter." But Joanna knew that Ellen felt sore, and failing to discover the reason herself at last applied to Arthur Alce. "If you ask me," said Arthur, "it's because she's only a farmer's wife." "Why should that upset her all of a sudden?" "Well, folks don't give her the consequence she'd like; and now she sees you having gentry at your table ..." "I'd have had her at it too, only she didn't want to come, and you haven't got the proper clothes. Arthur, if you take my advice, you'll go into Lydd this very day and buy yourself an evening suit." "Ellen won't let me. She says I'd look a clown in it." "Ellen's getting very short. What's happened to her these days?" "It's only that she likes gentlefolk and is fit to mix with them; and after all, Jo, I'm nothing but a pore common man." "I hope you don't complain of her, Arthur?" "Oh, no--I've no complaints--don't you think it. And don't you go saying anything to her, Jo." "Then what am I to do about it? I won't have her troubling you, nor herself, neither. I tell you what I'll do--look here!--I--I--" Joanna gave a loud sacrificial gulp--"I'll make it middle-day dinner instead of late, and then you won't have to wear evening dress, and Ellen can come and meet the Old Squire. She should ought to, seeing as he gave her a pearl locket when she was married. It won't be near so fine as having it in the evening, but I don't want neither her nor you to be upset--and I can always call it 'lunch' ..." Sec.23