“She must have come in along the gravel path by the back door,” he thought to himself. “I shouldn’t have thought it was wide enough.” He looked to see if his tie was straight, and then leaned out to answer.
“Georgie, come round a minute,” called Daisy. “Have you seen it?”
“Yes,” said Georgie, “I have. And I’ll come.”
Mrs. Boucher was talking in her loud emphatic voice, when he arrived.
“As for pearls,” she said, “I can’t say anything about them, not having seen them. But as for diamonds, the only diamonds she ever had was two or three little chips on the back of her wrist-watch. That I’ll swear to.”
The two ladies took no notice of him: Daisy referred to the description of Lucia’s dress again.
“I believe it was her last dinner-gown with a train added,” she said. “It was a sort of brocade.”
“Yes, and plush is a sort of velvet,” said Mrs. Boucher. “I’ve a good mind to write to the Times, and say they’re mistaken. Brocade! Bunkum! It’s pushing and shoving instead of diamonds and pearls. But I’ve had my say, and that’s all. I shouldn’t a bit wonder if we saw the King and Queen had gone to lunch quite quietly at Brompton Square.”
“That’s all very well,” said Daisy, “but what are we to do?”
“Do?” said Mrs. Boucher. “There’s plenty to do in Riseholme, isn’t there? I’m sure I never suffered from lack of employment, and I should be sorry to think that I had less interests now than I had before last Wednesday week. Wednesday, or was it Thursday, when they slipped away like that? Whichever it was, it makes no difference to me, and if you’re both disengaged this evening, you and Mr. Georgie, the Colonel and I would be very glad if you would come and take your bit of dinner with us. And Mr. Quantock too, of course. But as for diamonds and pearls, well, let’s leave that alone. I shall wear my emerald tiara to-night and my ruby necklace. My sapphires have gone to be cleaned.”