Major Buller took the hand she held out to him and led the old lady to the front door, whither we all followed them.
Mrs. Vandaleur’s carriage was before the steps. It was a very quaint little box on two wheels, in by no means good repair. It was drawn by a pony, white, old, and shaggy. At the pony’s head stood a small boy in decent, but not smart, plain clothes.
“Put the mat over the wheel to save my dress, Adolphe,” said the old lady; and as the little boy obeyed her order she stepped nimbly into the carriage, assisted by the Major. “The silk is old,” she observed complacently; “but it is my best, of course, or it would not have been worn to-day,” and she gave a graceful little bow towards Aunt Theresa; “and I hope that, with care, it will serve as such for the rest of my life, which cannot be very long.”
“If it wears as well as you do, Madam,” said Major Buller, tucking her in, “it may; not otherwise.”
The Surgeon was leaning over the other side of the little cart, and seemed also to be making polite speeches. It recalled the way that men used to hang upon my mother’s carriage. The old lady smiled, and made gracious little replies, and meanwhile deliberately took off her kid gloves, folded, and put them into her pocket. She then drew on a pair of old worsted ones.
“Economy, economy,” she said, smiling, and giving a hand on each side of her to the two gentlemen. “May I trouble you for the reins? Many thanks. Farewell, gentlemen! I cannot pretend to fear that my horse will catch cold—his coat is too thick; but you may. Adieu, Mrs. Buller, once more. Farewell, little one, I wish you good-morning, Madam. Adolphe, seat yourself; make your bow, Adolphe. Adieu, dear friends!”
She gave a flick with the whip, which the pony resented by shaking his head; after which he seemed, so to speak, to snatch up the little cart, my great-grandmother, and Adolphe, and to run off with them at a good round pace.
“What an extraordinary turn-out!” said the Surgeon’s wife. (She was an Irish attorney’s daughter, with the commonest of faces, and the most unprecedented of bonnets. She and her husband had lately “set up” a waggonette, the expense of which just made it difficult for them to live upon their means, and the varnish of which added a care to life.) “Fancy driving down High Street in that!” she continued; “and just when everybody is going out, too!”
“Uncommon sensible little affair, I think,” said the Surgeon. “Suits the old lady capitally.”
“Mrs. Vandaleur,” said Major Buller, “can afford to be independent of appearances to an extent that would not perhaps be safe for most of us.”