roomanhourlater."Tut-tut!"—acommentthatwasprofoundenough,thoughinarticulatelyexpressed,sincehisvaletwashandinghisshirtstuds.
JuliaEliot,too,hadseenthehorserunaway,andhadrisenfromherseattowatchtheendoftheincident,which,sinceshecameofasportingfamily,seemedtoherslightlyridiculous.SureenoughthelittlemancamepoundingbehindwithhisbreechesdustylookedthoroughlyannoyedandwasbeinghelpedtomountbyapolicemanwhenJuliaEliot,withasardonicsmile,turnedtowardstheMarbleArchonhererrandofmercy.ItwasonlytovisitasickoldladywhohadknownhermotherandperhapstheDukeofWellingtonforJuliasharedtheloveofhersexforthedistressedlikedtovisitdeath-bedsthrewslippersatweddingsreceivedconfidencesbythedozenknewmorepedigreesthanascholarknowsdates,andwasoneofthekindliest,mostgenerous,leastcontinentofwomen.
YetfiveminutesaftershehadpassedthestatueofAchillesshehadtheraptlookofonebrushingthroughcrowdsonasummer'safternoon,whenthetreesarerustling,thewheelschurningyellow,andthetumultofthepresentseemslikeanelegyforpastyouthandpastsummers,andthereroseinhermindacurioussadness,asiftimeandeternityshowedthroughskirtsandwaistcoasts,andshesawpeoplepassingtragicallytodestruction.Yet,Heavenknows,Juliawasnofool.Asharperwomanatabargaindidnotexist.Shewasalwayspunctual.ThewatchonherwristgavehertwelveminutesandahalfinwhichtoreachBrutonStreet.LadyCongreveexpectedheratfive.
ThegiltclockatVerrey'swasstrikingfive.
Florindalookedatitwithadullexpression,likeananimal.Shelookedattheclocklookedatthedoorlookedatthelongglassoppositedisposedhercloakdrewclosertothetable,forshewaspregnant—nodoubtaboutit,MotherStuartsaid,recommendingremedies,consultingfriendssunk,caughtbytheheel,asshetrippedsolightlyoverthesurface.
Hertumblerofpinkishsweetstuffwassetdownbythewaiterandshesucked,throughastraw,hereyesonthelooking-glass,onthedoor,nowsoothedbythesweettaste.WhenNickB