THE MAN FROM BLANKLEY'S.
A Story in Scenes.
Scene VIII.—In the Drawing-room—Time, about 10. Mrs. Bodfish and Mrs. Ditchwater are talking in confidential undertones on a settee. Miss Bugle's anxiety concerning her invalid Cockatoo has already obliged her to depart. Mrs. Gilwattle is lecturing her Niece on a couch by the fire, while little Gwendolen is in a corner with a Picture-book.
Mrs. Bodfish (in a wheezy whisper). If he had condescended to make himself agreeable all round, I shouldn't say a word; but to sit there talking to that little forward governess, and never an audible word from first to last—well, I quite felt for poor dear Mrs. Tidmarsh being so neglected at her own table.
Mrs. Ditch. Ah, my dear, if she will have the aristocracy to dine with her, she must put up with such treatment. I wouldn't stoop to such presumption myself. And, if I did, I would have a couple of entrées, and everything carved off the table! He'll go away with such a poor opinion of us all!
Mrs. Bod. He must have noticed how the vegetable dishes were chipped! And I'm sure I was ashamed to see she had put out those old-fashioned doyleys with the finger-glasses. I wonder she never thought of getting some new ones. I saw some the other day in the Grove, hand-worked, at only five-pence three-farthings!
Mrs. Ditch. I could see something was weighing on her mind, or she'd have talked more to him. What is his title? It sounded like "Stratspoddle." I must look it out in my Peerage. Would he be an Earl now, or what?
Mrs. Bod. I don't expect he's more than a Viscount, if so much. I do think she might have presented us to him, though!
Mrs. Ditch. It isn't the fashion to introduce, nowadays. But I consider we are quite entitled to speak to him, if we get an opportunity—in fact, he would think it very odd if we didn't! (&c., &c.)
Mrs. Gilwattle. Well, Maria, I say, as I said before, don't let it turn your head, that's all! Depend upon it, this young nobleman isn't so affable for nothing. He wouldn't dine with you like this unless he expected to get something out of it. What that something may be, you best know!