There was silence until the Lord Lieutenant drew a deep breath and said,
“I can hardly believe what you have just said is the truth. But it will solve a great many problems which have consistently grown worse and worse year by year.”
He sighed as he went on,
“As this house is so small, I have been prevented from giving the grand parties which are always expected of a Lord Lieutenant. You know as well as I do that people are snobs and they are not amused to be asked to dance in a hotel or in the Town Hall.”
“Certainly not ours,” Joanna replied laughingly. “I know it has been impossible for you to give large parties for visitors that Papa often attended simply because your dining room here would only hold a quarter of the people who would want to accept your invitation.”
“It is true,
