XII
MRS. RAILING accepted Canon Spratte’s invitation to bring her daughter to tea. On the day appointed he sat like a Hebrew patriarch surrounded by his family and waited for her to come. He addressed Lionel, his son.
“You’ll remember that there are two funerals to-morrow morning, won’t you?” he said.
“Good gracious, I had completely forgotten all about them.”
“I daresay they were persons of no consequence,” remarked Lord Spratte.
“As a matter of fact, I believe one of them, poor fellow! was our own fish-monger,” said the Canon, smiling.
“I thought the fish had been very inferior these last few days,” murmured Lady Sophia.
Ponsonby opened the door stealthily and announced the guests in his most impressive tones.
“Mrs. and Miss Railing.”
Mrs. Railing, a woman of simple tastes, was unaccustomed to give time or thought to the adornment of her person. She was an excellent creature who had arrived at the sensible conclusion that comfort was more important than appearance; and when she had grown used to a garment, only the repeated persuasion of her children could induce her to give it up. Widowhood with her was a question of pride and a passport to respectability. She wore, somewhat on one side, a shabby crape bonnet, a black old-fashioned cloak, and loose cotton gloves. She carried with affectionate care, as though it were a jewel of vast price, a gloomy and masculine umbrella. It had a bow on the handle.