Peniston’sinfrequentdinner-parties？
Mrs。Penistondislikedgivingdinners，butshehadahighsenseoffamilyobligation，andontheJackStepneys’returnfromtheirhoneymoonshefeltitincumbentuponhertolightthedrawing-roomlampsandextractherbestsilverfromtheSafeDepositvaults。Mrs。Peniston’srareentertainmentswereprecededbydaysofheart-rendingvacillationastoeverydetailofthefeast，fromtheseatingofthegueststothepatternofthetable-cloth，andinthecourseofoneofthesepreliminarydiscussionsshehadimprudentlysuggestedtohercousinGracethat，asthedinnerwasafamilyaffair，shemightbeincludedinit。ForaweektheprospecthadlightedupMissStepney’scolourlessexistence；thenshehadbeengiventounderstandthatitwouldbemoreconvenienttohaveheranotherday。MissStepneyknewexactlywhathadhappened。Lily，towhomfamilyreunionswereoccasionsofunalloyeddulness，hadpersuadedherauntthatadinnerof\"smart\"peoplewouldbemuchmoretothetasteoftheyoungcouple，andMrs。Peniston，wholeanedhelplesslyonhernieceinsocialmatters，hadbeenprevailedupontopronounceGrace’sexile。Afterall，Gracecouldcomeanyotherday；whyshouldshemindbeingputoff？
ItwaspreciselybecauseMissStepneycouldcomeanyotherday——andbecausesheknewherrelationswereinthesecretofherunoccupiedevenings——thatthisincidentloomedgiganticallyonherhorizon。ShewasawarethatshehadLilytothankforit；anddullresentmentwasturnedtoactiveanimosity。
Mrs。Peniston，onwhomshehadlookedinadayortwoafterthedinner，laiddownhercrochet-workandturnedabruptlyfromherobliquesurveyofFifthAvenue。
\"GusTrenor？——LilyandGusTrenor？\"shesaid，growingsosuddenlypalethathervisitorwasalmostalarmed。