In the text fourteen by Alice Gerstenberg which statement expresses the theme of the drama

"Thirteen! Why you're right--thirteen! We can never sit down with thirteen. That's all due to Mr. Harper's negligence. Sick friend, nothing! He's just one of those careless men who never answer their invitations in time."

Explanation:

As a high-class individual, connections among royalty and the rich are paramount when it comes to maintaining or improving your social status within the upper echelon of society.

One of the most common problems such people face while trying to build and improve the bonds with other members of high society arises when it comes to fancy and expensive dinner arrangements. As such, every fork and knife must be immaculate, every plate sparkly clean and everyone must be seated accordingly.

Mrs. Horace Pringle's dinner table fits precisely fourteen people, placing a chair at each end and lines of six chairs on each side. If those fourteen seats are not properly filled, there will be an outrage and even the royalty they are trying to impress might hear of such an embarrassing situation.