Mrs. Yorke, having discovered a breach in her adversary's defences, like a good general directed her attack against it.
"He dresses horribly; he wears his hair like a--countryman; and his manners are as antiquated as his clothes. Think of him at the opera or at one of Mrs. Wentworth's receptions! He says 'madam' and 'sir' as if he were a servant."
"I got after him about that once," said the girl, reflectively. "I said that only servants said that."
"Well, what did he say?"
"Said that that proved that servants sometimes had better manners than their masters."
"Well, I must say, I think he was excessively rude!" asserted Mrs. Yorke, picking up her fan and beginning to fan rapidly.
"That's what I said; but he said he did not see how it could be rude to state a simple and impersonal fact in a perfectly respectful way."
Alice was warming up in defence and swept on.
"He said the new fashion was due to people who were not sure of their own position, and were afraid others might think them servile if they employed such terms."
"What does he know about fashion?"