"I cannot name a day," said he, "till I have spoken to some others whom I would wish to meet you."
"Oh! leave all that to me. Only give me a carte-blanche.——I am Lady Patroness, you know. It is my party. I will bring friends with me."
"I hope you will bring Elton," said he: "but I will not trouble you to give any other invitations."
"Oh! now you are looking very sly. But consider——you need not be afraid of delegating power to me. I am no young lady on her preferment. Married women, you know, may be safely authorised. It is my party. Leave it all to me. I will invite your guests."
"No,"——he calmly replied,——"there is but one married woman in the world whom I can ever allow to invite what guests she pleases to Donwell, and that one is——"
"——Mrs. Weston, I suppose," interrupted Mrs. Elton, rather mortified.
"No——Mrs. Knightley;——and till she is in being, I will manage such matters myself."
"You certainly will meet them if I can prevail; and I shall call on Miss Bates in my way home."