miling,“we’vebothbeenabsurdlymelodramatic.”
“Irefusetolaughatthesubject.Iseenothingridiculousinit.Come,Charles,letusgo,andleavehertoherownthoughts.”
ButasMissGloverboundedtothedoorthehandlewasturnedfromtheoutsideandMrs.Brandertoncamein.Thepositionwasawkward,andherappearanceseemedalmostprovidentialtotheVicar,whocouldnotflingoutoftheroomlikehissister,butalsocouldnotmakeuphismindtoshakehandswithBertha,asifnothinghadhappened.Mrs.Brandertonentered,allairsandgraces,smirkingandogling,andthegew-gawsonherbrand-newbonnetquiveredwitheverymovement.
“ItoldtheservantIcouldfindmywayupalone,Bertha,”shesaid.“Iwantedsomuchtoseeyou.”
“Mr.andMissGloverwerejustgoing.Howkindofyoutocome!”
MissGloverbouncedoutoftheroomwithasmileatMrs.BrandertonthatwasalmostghastlyandMr.Glover,meek,polite,andasantisepticasever,shakinghandswithMrs.Branderton,followedhissister.
“Whatqueerpeopletheyare!”saidMrs.Branderton,standingatthewindowtoseethemcomeoutofthefrontdoor.“Ireallydon’tthinkthey’requitehuman....Why,she’swalkingoninfront—shemightwaitforhim—takingsuchlongstepsandhe’stryingtocatchherup.Ibelievethey’rehavingarace.Ha!ha!Whatridiculouspeople!Isn’titapityshewillwearshortskirts—mydear,herfeetandanklesarepositivelyawful.Ibelievetheywearoneanother’sbootsindiscriminately....Andhowareyou,dear?Ithinkyou’relookingmuchbetter.”
Mrs.Brandertonsatinsuchapositionastohavefullviewofherselfinamirror.
“Whatnicelooking-glassesyouhaveinyourroom,mylove.Nowomancandressproperlywithoutthem.Now,you’veonlygottolookatpoorFannyGlovertoknowthatshe’ssomodestasnevereventolookatherselfintheglasstoputherhaton.”
Mrs.Brandertonchatteredon,thinkingthatshewasdoingBerthagood.“Awomandoesn’twantonetobesolemnwhenshe’sill.IknowwhenIhaveanythingthematter,Ilikesomeonetotalktomeaboutthefashions.Irememberinmyyoungdays,whenIwasill,IusedtogetoldMr.Crowhurst,theformervicar,tocomeandreadtheladies’paperstome.Hewas