“Give her my kind love; and say I hope she enjoys Switzerland.”
“Francine, you are positively shameless! After calling my dearest friend a fool and a glutton, you send her your love for your own selfish ends; and you expect me to help you in deceiving her! I won’t do it.”
“Keep your temper, my child. We are all selfish, you little goose. The only difference is—some of us own it, and some of us don’t. I shall find my own way to Cecilia’s good graces quite easily: the way is through her mouth. You mentioned a certain Doctor Allday. Does he give parties? And do the right sort of men go to them? Hush! I think I hear the bell again. Go to the door, and see who it is.”
Emily waited, without taking any notice of this suggestion. The servant announced that “the person had called again, to know if there was any answer.”
“Show her in here,” Emily said.
The servant withdrew, and came back again.
“The person doesn’t wish to intrude, miss; it will be quite sufficient if you will send a message by me.”
Emily crossed the room to the door.
“Come in, Mrs. Ellmother,” she said. “You have been too long away already. Pray come in.”