But Mrs. Railing feared she had wounded her host’s feelings.
“Now I come to look at ’im, I don’t think ’e’s so bad looking after all,” she said.
His elder son cast a rapid glance at the Lord Chancellor’s sardonic smile.
“In the family we think he’s the very image of my brother Theodore.”
“Well, now you mention it, I do see a likeness,” replied Mrs. Railing, innocently looking from the portrait to Canon Spratte.
The Canon shook his head at his brother with smiling menace, and handed the good lady a cup of tea. While she stirred it, she addressed herself amiably to Lady Sophia.
“Nice neighbourhood this!” she said.
“South Kensington?” answered Lady Sophia. “It’s the least unpleasant of all the suburbs.”
“My dear, I cannot allow South Kensington to be called a suburb,” cried the Canon. “It’s the very centre of London.”
Lady Sophia smiled coldly.