Chapter IX

shavebeenasproudasturkey-cocks,”addedMrs.Branderton. “Ishouldn’thavethoughtMrs.Craddockhadmuchtobeproudofnow,atallevents,”saidtheelderMissHancockshehadnoancestorsherself,andthoughtpeoplewhohadweresnobs. “Perhapsshewasalittlenervous,”saidLadyWaggett,who,thoughnotdistinguished,wasgood.“IknowwhenIwasabrideIusedtobeallofatremblewhenIwenttodinner-parties.” “Nonsense,”saidMrs.MaystonRyle.“Shewasextremelyself-possessedIdon’tthinkitlookswellforayoungwomantohavesomuchassurance.AndIthinksheoughttobetoldthatit’shardlywellbredforayoungmarriedwomantoleaveahousebeforeanybodyelseasifshewereroyalty,whentherearepresentwomenofacertainageandofapositionundoubtedlynotinferiortoherown.” “Oh,they’resonewlymarriedtheyliketobealone,poorthings,”saidLadyWaggett.“IknowIusedtowhenIwasfirstmarriedtoSirSamuel.” “MydearLadyWaggett,”answeredMrs.MaystonRyleintonesofthunder,“thecasesarenotsimilarMrs.CraddockwasaMissLey,andreallyshouldknowsomethingoftheusagesofgoodsociety.” “Well,whatdoyouthinkshesaidtome?”saidMrs.Branderton,wavingherthinarms.“Iwastellingherthatwewereallsopleasedwithherhusband—Ithoughtitwouldcomfortheralittle,poorthing—andshesaidshehopedhewouldbeequallysatisfiedwithus.” Mrs.MaystonRyleforamomentwasstupefied,butsoonrecovered. “Howveryamusing,”shecried,risingfromherchair.“Ha!ha!ShehopesMr.EdwardCraddockwillbesatisfiedwithMrs.MaystonRyle.” ThetwoMissHancockssaid“Ha!ha!”inchorus.Then,thegreatlady’scarriagebeingannounced,shebadetheassemblygood-night,andsweptoutwithagreatrustlingofhervioletsilk.Thepartymightnowreallybelookeduponasconcluded,andtheothersobedientlyflockedoff. WhentheyhadputtheGloversdown,Berthanestledclosetoherhusband. “I’msogladit’sallover,”shewhispered“I’monlyhappywhenI’malonewithyou.” “Itwasajollyevening,wasn’tit,”hesaid.“Ithoughttheywereallripping.” “I’msogladyouenjoyedit,dearIwasafraidyou’dbebored.” “Goodheavens,that’sthelastthingIshouldbe.Itdoesonegoodtohearconversationlikethatnowandthen—itbrightensoneup.” Berthastartedalittle. “OldBacotisaverywellinformedman,isn’the?Ishouldn’twonderifhewasrightinthinkingthatthegovernmentwouldgooutattheendoftheirsixyears.” “Healwaysleadsonetobelievethathe’sinthePrimeMinister’sconfidence,”saidBertha. “AndtheGeneralisafunnyoldchap,”addedEdward.“ThatwasagoodstoryhetoldabouttheDukeofWellington.” SomehowthisremarkhadacuriouseffectuponBerthashecouldnotrestrainherself,butburstsuddenlyintoshrieksofhystericallaughter.Herhusband,thinkingshewaslaughingattheanecdote,burstalsointopealuponpeal. “AndthestoryabouttheBishop’sgaiters!”criedEdward,shoutingwithmerriment. Themorehelaughed,themorehystericalbecameBerthaandastheydrovethroughthesilentnighttheyscreamedandyelledandshookwithuncontrollablemirth.