"Yes, indeed!" said Mrs. Loftus, who was now rising ponderously to depart. "We shall hope to see you often at The Poplars, Mrs. Grahame. There is not another house within five miles where one can visit. Of course I don't include that old bear, Colonel Ferrers, who never speaks a civil word to any one."
Hildegarde flushed and looked at her mother, but Mrs. Grahame said very quietly, "I have known Colonel Ferrers for many years. He was a friend of my husband's."
"Oh, I beg your pardon!" said Mrs. Loftus, looking scared. "I had no idea—I never heard of any one knowing Colonel Ferrers. Come, Leonie, we must be going."
They departed, first engaging Hildegarde, rather against her will, to lunch with them the following Friday; and the grand equipage rolled clinking and jingling away.
"We seem to have fallen upon a Montague and Capulet neighbourhood," said Mrs. Grahame, smiling, as she turned to go upstairs.
"Yes, indeed!" said Hildegarde. "Shall we be Tybalts or Mercutios?"
"Neither, I hope," said her mother, "as both were run through the body. Of course, however, there is no question as to which neighbour we shall find most congenial. And now, child, get your hat, and let us take a good walk, to drive the cobwebs out of our brains."
"Have with you!" said Hildegarde, running lightly up the stairs; "only, darling, don't be so—so—incongruous as to call Mrs. Loftus a cobweb!"