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Pretty girls laughed in the sunshine; matrons gossiped beneath the rustling trees; and the sober black coats of the clerical element subdued the too vivid tints of the feminine frippery. The scene was animated and full of colour and movement, so that even Mrs Pansey's grim countenance expanded into an unusual smile when greeting fresh arrivals.
'I think I can safely say so, sir, rejoined Baltic, gravely. 'By the way, did you not tell me that Captain George Pendle was on the common when the murder took place? 'Yes, George was there, and so was Gabriel. Mrs Pansey's page saw them both. 'And where is Captain Pendle now, sir?
There were times when her subjects made use of language not precisely ecclesiastic, and not infrequently Mrs Pansey's name was mentally included in the Commination Service. Thus it chanced that Daisy, the spinster, found herself in Mrs Pansey's carriage on her way to the episcopalian reception, extremely well pleased with herself, her dress, her position, and her social guardian angel.
In the meantime, Mrs Pansey was persecuting his wife, a meek, nervous little woman, who was propped up with pillows in a large bed, and seemed to be quite overwhelmed by the honour of Mrs Pansey's call. 'So you are weak in the back, are you? said the visitor, in loud tones. 'If you are, what right have you to marry and bring feeble children into the world?
'I beg your pardon, my lord, said he, making a feint of retiring, 'I did not know that your lordship was engaged. 'I am not engaged, replied the bishop, seemingly glad to escape from his own sad thoughts; 'come in, come in. You have left Mrs Pansey's fête rather early.
After a stay of two months, the town mouse was departing as she had come a single young woman; and Mrs Pansey's last word was meant to remind her of failure. Daisy was quick enough to guess this, but, displeased at the taunt, chose to understand it in another and more gracious sense, so as to disconcert her spiteful friend. 'Fortunate! Oh, dear Mrs Pansey, I have been very fortunate this time.
'Of course I have, she replied, untying the red tape with trembling fingers. 'Here is the certificate of marriage which my poor Annie gave me on her dying bed. I would have shown it before to all Beorminster had I known of Mrs Pansey's false reports. Look at it, bishop. She thrust it into his hand. 'Ann Whichello, spinster; Pharaoh Bosvile, bachelor.
"If he knows everything," said Blanche, "he should be able to tell me what I want to know." "And what is that?" inquired Lady Mary, with no little curiosity. "He will know that also if omniscient, as you suppose, mamma." "You are talking downright nonsense! How can any one answer a question which you won't ask them? But Pansey's knowledge of what goes on in his own world is marvellous.
The dinner-plates were of thin china, painted with sprawling dragons in yellow and green; the food, in spite of Mrs Pansey's report, was plentiful and dainty, and the wines came from the stock laid down by the father of the hostess in the days when dignitaries of the Church knew what good wine was.
Now you clear out and let me get on with my work. Reassured by the girl's manner, Mosk began to think that Mrs Pansey's hints were all moonshine, and after cooling himself with a glass of beer, went away to look into his betting-book with some horsey pals.
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