CHAPTER XXXII
關燈
小
中
大
ButitwaswrongofEvietoreturnit.Itwasn’tlikehertodosuchaheartlessthing.”
“Butthepresentwassoexpensive.”
“Whydoesthatmakeanydifference,Dolly?”
“Still,whenitcostsoverfivepounds—Ididn’tseeit,butitwasalovelyenamelpendantfromaBondStreetshop.Youcan’tverywellacceptthatkindofthingfromafarmwoman.Now,canyou?”
“YouacceptedapresentfromMissAverywhenyouweremarried.”
“Oh,minewasoldearthenwarestuff—notworthahalfpenny.Evie’swasquitedifferent.You’dhavetoaskanyonetotheweddingwhogaveyouapendantlikethat.UnclePercyandAlbertandfatherandCharlesallsaiditwasquiteimpossible,andwhenfourmenagree,whatisagirltodo?Eviedidn’twanttoupsettheoldthing,sothoughtasortofjokingletterbest,andreturnedthependantstraighttotheshoptosaveMissAverytrouble.”
“ButMissAverysaid—”
Dolly’seyesgrewround.“Itwasaperfectlyawfulletter.Charlessaiditwastheletterofamadman.Intheendshehadthependantbackagainfromtheshopandthrewitintotheduck-pond.”
“Didshegiveanyreasons?”
“WethinkshemeanttobeinvitedtoOniton,andsoclimbintosociety.”
“She’sratheroldforthat,”saidMargaretpensively.“MayshenothavegiventhepresenttoEvieinremembranceofhermother?”
“That’sanotion.Giveeveryonetheirdue,eh?Well,I
