‘What makes you nervous?’ asks Carew.
‘Well, they are all strangers, for one thing—and besides’—rather shamefacedly—‘they will be very big people, of course, and at luncheon there will be entrées, and dishes, and things I have never even heard of, and’—almost tearfully now—‘I shan’t know what to do.’
‘There are only two things to be remembered really,’ says Mr. Fitzgerald slowly but forcibly. ‘One is not to pick your teeth with your fork, and the other is even more important: for goodness’ sake, Susan, whatever you do, don’t eat your peas with your knife. All that sort of thing has gone out—has been unfashionable for quite a year or more.’
‘Oh, it’s all very well for you to make fun of it,’ says Susan resentfully. ‘You haven’t to go there.’
‘And is that what you call “well for me”? I wish I was going there, if only to look after your manners, which evidently, by your own account of them, leave a great deal to be desired. By-the-by, there is one thing more I should like to impress upon you before you start: never, Susan—no matter how sorely tempted—put your feet on the table-cloth. It is quite a solecism nowadays, and—’
‘If you won’t go away, I shall,’ says Susan, rising with extreme dignity. But he leans forward, and catching the tail of her gown just as she is gaining her feet, brings her with a jerk to her sitting position again. After which they all laugh irrepressibly, and the émeute is at an end.
‘What a lot of servants they had in church!’ says Betty, alluding to the all-absorbing guests at the Park. ‘I suppose that tall woman was Lady Forster’s maid?’ ‘Yes, and the little woman was Mrs. Prior’s. By the way, that squares matters. Mrs. Prior has grown several yards since last year.’
‘It seemed to me that each maid sat behind her own mistress.’
‘So as to keep her eye on her. And very necessary too, no doubt.’
‘Did you see that pale young man, ever so thin and wretched-looking, but so conceited? His hair was nearly down to his waist, and he hadn’t any chin to speak of.’