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He had received no intimation of Mr. Dale's presence in his house, nor of the arrival of the dreaded women Lady Busshe and Lady Culmer: his locked door was too great a terror to his domestics.
At the sight of Mr. Dale in the room Lady Busshe murmured to her friend: "Confirmation!" Lady Culmer murmured: "Corney is quite reliable." "The man is his own best tonic." "He is invaluable for the country." Miss Eleanor and Miss Isabel greeted them.
This last addressed him, and in a half comic, half serious manner, said: “Well, Mr. Culmer, I make no doubt you are well prepared for your examination.” “And who the devil put you there,” answered Billy sharply, “to pass one who taught you to be something of a sailor? Do you remember the colting I gave you when you were a youngster in my charge? But I never could beat much seamanship into you.
"With her appearance, the game has to be resigned to her entirely," he rejoined. "That is," Lady Culmer continued, "if you do not despise an old woman for your comrade on a shopping excursion." "Despise whom we fleece!" exclaimed Dr. Middleton. "Oh, no, Lady Culmer, the sheep is sacred." "I am not so sure," said Vernon. "In what way, and to what extent, are you not so sure?" said Dr. Middleton.
And if he mistook her not, she had just alluded to the demoniacal Constantia Durham. It might be that he had mistaken her: he was on guard against his terrible sensitiveness. Nevertheless it was hard to account for this behaviour of a lady greatly his friend and admirer, a lady of birth. And Lady Culmer as well! likewise a lady of birth. Were they in collusion? had they a suspicion?
“I make no doubt,” said a veteran captain, “that most of the present company recollect a man by the name of Billy Culmer, a distant relation of Lord Hood’s. He was a short time one of my lieutenants, and was between thirty and forty years of age before he obtained his commission.
"He recollects his cough now and then." "You must help him to forget it." "Lady Busshe and Lady Culmer are here," said Vernon, not supposing it to be a grave announcement until the effect of it on Mrs. Mountstuart admonished him. She dropped her voice: "Engage my fair friend for one of your walks the moment we rise from table. You may have to rescue her; but do. I mean it."
"I can calculate on Colonel De Craye and our porcelain beauty for any quantity of sparkles, if you promise that. They play well together. You are not to be one of the gods to-night, but a kind of Jupiter's cup-bearer; Juno's, if you like; and Lady Busshe and Lady Culmer, and all your admirers shall know subsequently what you have done. You see my alarm.
Never was wilder disorder of wedding-presents, and not one lost! owing, you'll own, to Uncle Benjy's two bottles of ancient Jamaica rum." Colonel De Craye concluded with an asseveration of the truth of the story. "A most provident, far-sighted old sea-captain!" exclaimed Mrs. Mountstuart, laughing at Lady Busshe and Lady Culmer. These ladies chimed in with her gingerly.
"We are in a perfect maelstrom!" cried Lady Busshe, turning to everybody. "It is a complete hurricane!" cried Lady Culmer. A light broke over the faces of the Patterne ladies. They exchanged it with one another. They had been so shocked as to be almost offended by Lady Busshe, but their natural gentleness and habitual submission rendered them unequal to the task of checking her.
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