Chapter IX

ngbutEdwardwasshy,andamongstrangersawkward.ToBerthathiswasacharmratherthanadefecthishalf-bashfulcandourtouchedher,andshecompareditfavourablywiththefoolishworldlinessoftheimaginaryman-about-town,whosedissipationsshealwaysopposedtoherhusband’svirtues.Butsheknewthataspitefultonguewouldfindanothernameforwhatshecalledadelightfulna?veté. Whenatlastthegreatdayarrived,andtheytrundledoffintheold-fashionedbrougham,Berthawasthoroughlypreparedtotakemortaloffenceatthemerestshadowofaslightofferedtoherhusband.TheLordChiefJusticehimselfcouldnothavebeenmorecarefulofacompanypromoter’sfairnamethanwasMrs.Craddockofherhusband’ssusceptibilitiesEdward,likethefinancier,treatedtheaffairwithindifference. Mrs.Brandertonhadroutedoutthewholecountrysideforhershowofgentlefolk.TheyhadcomefromBlackstableandTercanburyandFaversley,andfromtheseatsandmansionswhichsurroundedthoseplaces.Mrs.MaystonRylewasthereinawonderfuljete-blackwig,andavoluminousdressofvioletsilk.LadyWaggetwasthere. “Merelythewidowofacityknight,mydear,”saidthehostesstoBertha,“butifsheisn’tdistinguished,she’sgoodsoonemustn’tbetooharduponher.” GeneralHancockarrivedwithtwofuzzy-haireddaughters,whoweredreadfullyplain,butpretendednottoknowit.Theyhadwalkedandwhilethesoldiertoddledin,blowinglikeagrampus,thegirls(whoseunitedagesmadetherespectabletotalofsixty-fiveyears)stayedbehindtoremovetheirbootsandputontheshoeswhichtheyhadbroughtinabag.Then,inalittlewhile,cametheDean,meekandsomewhattalkativeMr.Gloverhadbeeninvitedforhissake,andofcourseCharles’sistercouldnotbeomitted.Shewaslookingalmostfestiveinveryshinyblacksatin. “Poordear,”saidMrs.Brandertontoanotherguest,“it’sheronlydinnerdressI’veseenitforyears.I’dwillinglygiveheroneofmyoldones,onlyI’mafraidIshouldoffendherbyofferingit.Peopleinthatclassaresoridiculouslysensitive.” Mr.AtthillBacotwasannouncedhehadoncecontestedtheseat,andeverafterbeenregardedasanauthorityuponthenation’saffairs.Mr.JamesLycettandMr.Molsoncamenext,bothred-facedsquireswithdogmaticopinionstheywerealikeastwopeas,andithadbeenthelocaljokeforthirtyyearsthatnoonebuttheirwivescouldtellthemapart.Mrs.Lycettwasthinandquietandstaid,wearingtwolittlestripsoflaceonherhairtorepresentacapMrs.Molsonwassoinsignificantthatnoonehadevernoticedwhatshewaslike.ItwasoneofMrs.Branderton’srepresentativegatheringsmoralexcellencewasjoinedtoperfectgentilityandtheresultcouldnotfailtoedify.Shewasherselfinhighspiritsandhercrackedvoiceranghighandshrill.Shewasconsciousofasuccessfulcostumeshereallyhadmuchtaste,andherfrockwouldhavelookedcharmingonawomanhalfherage.Thinkingalsothatitwaspartofwoman’sdutytobeamiable,Mrs.Brandertonsmiledandogledattheoldgentlemeninawaythatquitealarmedthem,andMr.AtthillBacotreallythoughtshehaddesignsuponhisvirtue. Thedin