dMr.Sandershadsmashedthecoffee-potandhewasteachingMr.Sanders—
Sureenough,thecoffee-potlaybrokenonthehearthrug.
"AnydaythisweekexceptThursday,"wroteMissPerry,andthiswasnotthefirstinvitationbyanymeans.WereallMissPerry'sweeksblankwiththeexceptionofThursday,andwasheronlydesiretoseeheroldfriend'sson?Timeisissuedtospinsterladiesofwealthinlongwhiteribbons.Thesetheywindroundandround,roundandround,assistedbyfivefemaleservants,abutler,afineMexicanparrot,regularmeals,Mudie'slibrary,andfriendsdroppingin.AlittlehurtshewasalreadythatJacobhadnotcalled.
"Yourmother,"shesaid,"isoneofmyoldestfriends."
MissRosseter,whowassittingbythefire,holdingtheSpectatorbetweenhercheekandtheblaze,refusedtohaveafirescreen,butfinallyacceptedone.Theweatherwasthendiscussed,forindeferencetoParkes,whowasopeninglittletables,gravermatterswerepostponed.MissRosseterdrewJacob'sattentiontothebeautyofthecabinet.
"Sowonderfullycleverinpickingthingsup,"shesaid.MissPerryhadfounditinYorkshire.TheNorthofEnglandwasdiscussed.WhenJacobspoketheybothlistened.MissPerrywasbethinkingherofsomethingsuitableandmanlytosaywhenthedooropenedandMr.Bensonwasannounced.Nowtherewerefourpeoplesittinginthatroom.MissPerryaged66MissRosseter42Mr.Benson38andJacob25.
"Myoldfriendlooksaswellasever,"saidMr.Benson,tappingthebarsoftheparrot'scageMissRossetersimultaneouslypraisedtheteaJacobhandedthewrongplatesandMissPerrysignifiedherdesiretoapproachmoreclosely."Yourbrothers,"shebeganvaguely.
"ArcherandJohn,"Jacobsuppliedher.ThentoherpleasuresherecoveredRebecca'snameandhowoneday"whenyouwerealllittleboys,playinginthedrawing-room—"
"ButMissPerryhasthekettle-holder,"saidMissRosseter,andindeedMissPerrywasclaspingittoherbreast.(Hadshe,then,lovedJacob'sfather?)
"Soclever"—"notsogoodasusual"—"Ithoughtitmostunfair,"saidMr.BensonandMissRosseter,discussingtheSaturdayWestminster.Didtheynotcompeteregularlyforprizes?HadnotMr.Bensonthreetimeswonaguinea,andMissRosseteroncetenandsixpence?OfcourseEverardBensonhadaweakheart,butstill,towinprizes,rememberparrots,toadyMissPerry,despiseMissRosseter,givetea-partiesinhisrooms(whichwereinthestyleofWhistler,withprettybooksontables),allthis,soJacobfeltwithoutknowinghim,madehimacontemptibleass.AsforMissRosseter,shehadnursedcancer,andnowpaintedwater-colours.
"Runningawaysosoon?"saidMissPerryvaguely