“I can’t believe that,” I exclaimed.
“It is quite in keeping with the bluff of our social-climbers,” said Uncle.
They both were against me. I looked to Mumsie, but she shook her head, as if to say, “Where are they leading the child?”
“I can tell you it is unsafe even to offer a passing civility to a society lady one does not know. I met a girl once carrying golf clubs; we were members of the same club, I politely offered to relieve her of the load. She declined.”
“Poor Jack,” murmured Mumsie.
“The poor girl thought that if she accepted my civility I would make it the basis of acquaintance, and we had not been introduced. She did not know if I might belong to her set or not. As for the value she placed upon herself one may pity her.”
“But, Mr. Bang,—” I began, thinking that something could be said, surely, from the girl’s point of view.
“There is no but about it,” he interrupted, rudely. “I can read these people like a book ———”
“It’s the schools that do it,” Uncle cut in. “Our girls’ schools are too much under the domination of such monstrosities, fed with those delusions and snobberies. We need to educate our educationalists.” I could see that his feeling, too, was strong.
“The world is all wrong,” laughed Mumsie, satirically.