The young mistress of the 'rooms,' it may be noted, was a trifle grand and stately to-day, and in a particularly unapproachable dress.
'Yes?' she said calmly. 'I think one's friends very often surprise one.'
'I know they do,' said Primrose. 'I wonder why they do. Other people never surprise one so much.'
'And how does Dane behave, in his new character?' Mrs. Coles went on, sipping her cup of tea with great satisfaction.
'Mr. Rollo is quite well, thank you.'
'To be quite wellwith himused to mean, that he had his own way,' said the lady blandly, but with a peculiar look over the table. 'Dear me! how delicious this tea is. You don't get such at our little country shops.Does it mean the same thing still? Do you let him have his way as much as he likes?'
'Did you never dare cross him in the old time?' said Wych Hazel with one of her mild looks of astonishment.
'I dared,' said Mrs. Coles with a smile. 'O yes, I dared, but I was the only one. I always wondered how it would be with his wife.'
Nobody enlightened her, and the talk passed on to other subjects. The truce held till the ladies left the table. Then began an examination in detail of the various articles in the room which did not come strictly under the head of furniture; and indeed they were somewhat tempting. For the walls were hung with engravings, there were one or two nice bits of marble and bronze, and a number of small useful things which were at the same time made to be beautiful as well. Primrose sat down to study a fine copy of the "Shadow of the Cross."
'Do these pictures all belong to the house?' Mrs. Coles asked.