‘I should not think so. I never heard anything of it.’
‘Has Theodora ever been introduced to the uncle and aunt?’
‘Never.’
‘Good old folks, exceedingly primitive. Very kind too, and a fine old-fashioned place; but, oh, so dull! All their ideas are of the seventeenth century. It will be a severe ordeal for poor Theodora, but if Lady Fotheringham, good old soul, is pleased with her, I shall expect grand consequences.’
Violet was glad that Miss Gardner was asked to dance. Presently Arthur returned to her side. ‘Tired, Violet?’ he asked. ‘Slow work, is not it? They have a queer lot here. Scarcely a soul one ever saw before.’
‘I was thinking so. Are there not a great many foreigners? I saw some immense moustaches.’
‘Ay. Percy would think himself back in Blue Beard’s country. There is the King of the Clothes Brushes himself polking with Mrs. Finch. Can’t you see?’
‘No! I wish I could.’
‘An economical fellow! Every man his own clothes brush—two expenses saved at once, to say nothing of soap, an article that mayhap he does not deal in.’
‘Oh! hush! you will make me laugh too much. Where ‘s Theodora?’