He felt that contradiction amply justified him in wrapping himself up in his paper for the rest of the evening, vouchsafing "um" and "ah" occasionally after imploring pressure from his aunt. He left first thing next morning.
Then his Radical sister came. She inspected something under Government, and with a burning faith in womanhood hoped against hope that with time her aunt must be converted "to think the right things." With a mere niece Henrietta felt at liberty, and very competent, to correct. But she little knew with whom she was reckoning.
"Servants belong to a Trade Union, Annie and Emma" (the cook) "join a Union. How perfectly ridiculous!"
"But why ridiculous, Aunt Etta?"
"Because it is."
"No, but do tell me, Aunt Etta. I know there must be some solid reason, and I should be so much interested to hear it."
"You should have seen Annie's hat last Sunday: enormous pink roses in it."
"Yes," answered her niece, catching her aunt out very easily, "but as far as that goes some ladies have enormous pink roses."
"Yes, indeed. Why, when I was young we should never——"
"And you don't object to their joining Trade Unions?"