Flossie pursed her mouth rather scornfully: 'Oh, George is immaculate!' she murmured.
'If he was, it would hardly be a reproach,' said her mother, catching the word; 'but, at all events, George has thoroughly good principles, and is sure to succeed in the world. I have every reason to be pleased.'
'Every reason?—ah! but are you pleased? Mother, dear, you know he's as dull as dull!'
'Ella does not find him so—and, Flossie, I don't like to hear you say such things, even in Ella's absence.'
'Oh, I never abuse him to Ella; it wouldn't be any use: she's firmly convinced that he's perfection—at least she was before she went away.'
'Why? do you mean that she has altered?—have you seen any sign of it, Flossie?'
Mrs. Hylton made this inquiry sharply, but not as if such a circumstance would be altogether displeasing to her.
'Oh, no; only she hasn't seen him for so long, you know. Perhaps, when she comes to look at him with fresh eyes, she'll notice things more. Ah, here is George, just getting out of a hansom—so he has played truant for once! There's one thing I do think Ella might do—persuade him to shave off some of those straggly whiskers. I wonder why he never seems to get a hat or anything else like other people's!'
Presently George was announced. He was slightly above middle height, broad-shouldered and fresh-coloured; the obnoxious whiskers did indeed cover more of his cheeks than modern fashion prescribes for men of his age, and had evidently never known a razor; he wore a turn-down collar and a necktie of a rather crude red; his clothes were neat and well brushed, but not remarkable for their cut.
'Well, my dear George,' said Mrs. Hylton, 'we have seen very little of you while Ella has been away.'