our President's decision that the right to entertain distin-
guished guests was a privilege vested in her office; and
I think the other members will agree that, as she was
alone in this opinion, she ought to be alone in deciding
on the best way of effacing its—its really deplorable con-
sequences."
A deep silence followed this outbreak of Mrs. Plinth's
long-stored resentment.
"I don't see why I should be expected to ask her to
resign—" Mrs. Ballinger at length began; but Laura Glyde
turned back to remind her: "You know she made you say
that you'd got on swimmingly in Xingu."
An ill-timed giggle escaped from Mrs. Leveret, and Mrs.
Ballinger energetically continued "—but you needn't think
for a moment that I'm afraid to!"
The door of the drawing-room closed on the retreating
backs of the Lunch Club, and the President of that distin-
guished association, seating herself at her writing-table,
and pushing away a copy of "The Wings of Death" to
make room for her elbow, drew forth a sheet of the club's
note-paper, on which she began to write: "My dear Mrs.
Roby—" H
The Library of America
14 East 60th St.
New York, New York 10022
President: Cheryl Hurley
Publisher: Max Rudin
Editor in Chief: Geoffrey O' Brien
Executive Assistant to the President: Karen Duda
Coordinator of Fellows: Andrea Stillman
HYLAND
