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She had a touch of humour about her as well as much 'early Victorian' sentiment, and she was just now enjoying herself. "I think not! Young women like change and travel. Maryllia has always been accustomed to go abroad in August. The first time Lady Wicketts and I ever met her, she was travelling with her aunt. Oh no, I don't think it is at all sudden!"
Bludlip Courtenay discovered him to be a 'game old boy' while Lady Wicketts and Miss Fosby found something congenial in the society of Miss Tabitha Pippitt, who, cherishing as she did, an antique-virgin passion for the Reverend John Walden, whom her father detested, had come to regard herself as a sort of silent martyr to the rough usages of this world, and was therefore not unwilling to listen to the long stories of life's disillusions which Lady Wicketts unravelled for her benefit, and which Miss Fosby, with occasional references to the photographs and prints of the 'Madonna' or the 'Girl with Lilies' tearfully confirmed.
Next day all the guests at the Manor had departed with the exception of three Louis Gigue, and the 'Sisters Gemini, namely, Lady Wicketts and Miss Fosby. With much gush and gratitude for a 'charming stay a delightful time! Lady Beaulyon and Mrs. Bludlip Courtenay took leave of their 'dear Maryllia, who received their farewells and embraces with an irresponsively civil coldness.
The poor soul herself was nearer seventy than sixty, and she was quite as lean as her idol was fat, she had never been loved by anyone in all her life, but, in her palmy days, she had loved. And the necessity of loving had apparently remained a part of her nature, otherwise it would have been a sheer impossibility for her to have selected so strange a fetish as Lady Wicketts for her adoration.
Lady Wicketts did not, in any marked way, respond to Miss Fosby's tenderness, she merely allowed herself to be worshipped, just as in her youth she had allowed scores of young bloods to kiss her hand and murmur soft nothings in her then 'shell-like' ear. The young bloods were gone, but Miss Fosby remained. Better the worship of Miss Fosby than no worship at all.
"With pleasure!" and Lady Wicketts' sunken old eyes gleamed with an anxious light over the furrows of flesh which encircled them, as she promptly deserted Miss Fosby, who had been sitting next to her, for the purpose of livelier entertainment; and in a moment there was a general gathering together in the wide embrasure of the window nook, and an animated discussion as to who should play Bridge and who should not.
Such an enjoyable prospect!" "We'll have two tables, or even three," said Lady Beaulyon; "I suppose most of us will play?" "Oh yes!" "Why of course!" "I should think so!" "Just what we're all longing for!" Such were the expressions of general delight and acceptance chorussed by the whole party. "You'll join, Lady Wicketts?"
Sir Morton, much to his chagrin, found himself deputed to escort Lady Wicketts, whose unwieldy proportions allied to his own, made it difficult for both to pass with proper dignity through the dining- room doorway. A little excited whispering between Mrs.
"Damn Lady Wicketts and Miss Fosby!" snapped out Sir Morton, this time without any apology "A couple of female donkeys! 'Kind of me to call upon them! God bless my soul! I should think it WOULD be kind! Nobody but a fool would go near them " "They are very pleasant, good women," said Miss Tabitha with severe serenity "Personally, I much prefer them to Miss Vancourt."
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