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"I believe my daughter did make Victoria's acquaintance, Mrs. Portheris," said she, "and we were all very pleased about it. Your Queen has a very good reputation in our country. We think her a wise sovereign and a perfect lady. I suppose you often go to her Drawing Rooms." Mrs. Portheris wore the expression of one passing through the Stone Age to a somewhat more mobile period.
Portheris's instant of vacillation, I stepped forward with such enthusiasm that she was compelled to take down her pince nez and hold out a superior hand. I took it warmly, and turned to my parents with a joy which was not in the least affected. "Momma," I exclaimed, "try to think of the very last person who would naturally cross your mind our relation, Mrs. Portheris.
"She is so young," I said apologetically, "and besides, I don't think you could expect her to go quite away and leave us here together, you know. She would naturally have foolish ideas. She doesn't know anything about our irrevocable Past." "Why should she care?" asked Mr. Mafferton hypocritically. "Oh," I said. "I don't know, I'm sure. Only Mrs. Portheris "
So I merely bowed with what magnificence I could command and filed it, so to speak; and walked to the other side of the deck, leaving poppa to his conscience and momma and his Aunt Caroline. I left him with confidence, not knowing which would give him the worst time. Mrs. Portheris began it, before I was out of earshot.
There was no alternative. We put Dicky in the middle again, and cautiously stepped out. A round of blue paper under our chaperone's arm caught the eye of Mr. Dod. "What luck!" he exclaimed, "you have brought the liqueur with you, Mrs. Portheris. I think we'd better all have some, if you don't mind. I've been in warmer cemeteries." As she undid the bottle, Mrs.
But I don't say it's bad chocolate. Try it, young lady, try it." He handed a bit to Isabel, who looked at her momma. "There is no possible objection, my dear," said Mrs. Portheris, and she nibbled it. Dicky invested wildly. "Dese photograff dey are very pritty," remarked Brother Demetrius to momma, who was turning over some St. Stephens and St. Cecilias.
Poppa, allow me to introduce you to your aunt Mrs. Portheris. Your far distant nephew from Chicago, Mr. Joshua Peter Wick." It was a moment to be remembered we all said so afterwards. Everything hung upon Mrs. Portheris's attitude. But it was immediately evident that Mrs. Portheris considered parents of any kind excusable, even commendable!
"I fancy Isabel is a person of strong affections," I said; "one notices it with her mother. And any one who could dote on Mrs. Portheris would certainly " "I fear so," said Mr. Mafferton. "I understand," I continued, "why you hesitate. And really, feeling as you do, I wouldn't be precipitate." "I won't," he said. "Watch the state of your own heart," I counselled, "for some little time.
Portheris hurriedly; "where where is the eucalyptus? Ah! I have it!" "Ben-en-euh! It is nutritive, I am sure, but it requires a cordial." The darkness for some reason seemed a little less black and the silence less oppressive. "I have only eaten about three inches," remarked Mrs. Portheris presently. Dicky and I were incapable of conversation "but I but I cannot go on at present.
He risked it anyhow, ran up another storey, put the roof on, and came in for the credit of the whole miracle. I expect Tomaso is at the bottom of that idea of yours, Aunt Caroline. He would naturally give the reporters that view." Mrs. Portheris listened with a tolerance as badly put on as any garment she was wearing.
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