Mrs. Kendal still “lets” or does not “let” her daughters, in the minor as well as in the major affairs of life, although Blanche, the eldest, must be thirty-seven.
“Mumma always says, ‘Be not the first by whom the new is tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside,’” Aileen solemnly quoted. “She says that Women’s Institutes are a new movement, and she wants to know rather more about them before she gives them her support.”
The Kendals are not naturally sententious, but when they quote either Puppa or Mumma they become so to an unbearable degree.
Claire, who is patient neither of sententiousness nor of quotations from other people, changed the subject.
“I’ve taken tickets, Miles, of course. Shall you want to come? It will only be the usual kind of Cross Loman concert.”
“Everybody is going, as usual. Nancy Fazackerly is taking her paying guest.”
“Has she got one?”
“Hadn’t you heard?” cried everybody except my wife and Mary Ambrey.
“He is a man called Captain Patch—quite young—and he is coming next week. Nancy Fazackerly told us all about it after church on Sunday.”
“She is coming up here to-morrow, so we shall hear about it,” said Claire.