[Janet Kenny]

Would Morton take to Phyllis or would he have one of his irrational fits? Planning a dinner table was always a delicate affair. Was it still acceptable to use place-names or should one just smile and casually suggest to people that they should be seated? Alfred would want to avoid eye contact with Sidney and Jacqueline always made eyes at Alfred. She would be wearing one of those dresses again. No Jacqueline would have to sit next to Morton. Would Morton prefer Jacqueline to Phyllis or would Phyllis become jealous? David was always reliable. He was a good conversationalist and Sidney enjoyed his jokes. Martha was surly but Alfred would jolly her along and she was reassuringly plain. What if people talked so long the soufflé was spoilt? Were soufflés still acceptable. One didn’t hear much of soufflés nowadays. It was all warm salads. Should she serve one of those instead? If they talked too long would they get poisoned by salmonella? It was all so difficult.