"If those men were my gardeners," she remarked, "I should have them up before the nearest magistrate for damaging my property. No tea, thanks. A whisky-and-seltzer, a biscuit, and a lump of ice."
"How self-conscious they look!" said the Lady Pearl, with a languishing air.
"Gardeners always do," said Lady Drake; "they think themselves the only artistic people among the wage-earning classes. Silly!"
She accepted a crumpet, despite the great heat.
"A gardener can be very attractive, though—eh, Lady Drake?" said the Duke, glancing from her withered face to Mr. Bush in an ostentatious manner.
Lady Drake suddenly remembered Mr. Bush's amiable profession, and was unable to give the crumpet its due and swallow it.
"I think that gardening is a high-minded and beautiful occupation. Oh!" cried Mrs. Verulam.
This last exclamation was occasioned by the behaviour of the gentleman with the hose, who, suddenly turning his attention from the Sunningdale cloud to the house-party, sprayed the tea-table nearest to him, at which were peacefully seated Mrs. Verulam, Mr. Ingerstall, and Mr. Rodney. The two former were only slightly watered, but the latter received about a ton and a half of cold liquid upon his head and down his delicate back. He uttered a cry like that which rises to heaven from a sinking ship with a large load of emigrants aboard.
"Wet?" said Miss Bindler. "Much better take your liquids internally."