self-assurance:
"I'veneverbeenabletofinishabookofhers.Ibeganoneaboutelectricity,whichIcouldn'tunderstand,andthenItriedanother.Iforgetwhatitwas,buttherewassomethinginitaboutabedofroses,andIthoughtitveryimproper.Idon'tthinkitwasanicebookforMarytoread,butgirlsseemtoreadeverythingnow."
Therewasapainedhush,suchasnaturallyoccurswhensomeonehasmadeaveryhorriblefauxpas.TheyalllookedatoneanotherawkwardlywhileMary,ashamedathermother'swantoftaste,kepthereyesgluedtothecarpetButMrs.Clibborn'sfollywassonotoriousthatpresentlyangerwassucceededbycontemptuousamusement,andthecuratecametotherescuewithaloudguffaw.
"Ofcourse,youknowyourMarieCorellibyheart,CaptainParsons?"
"I'mafraidI'veneverreadoneofthem."
"Not?"theyallcriedinsurprise.
"Oh,I'llsendthemtoyoutoPrimptonHouse,"saidMr.Dryland."Ihavethemall.Why,noone'seducationiscompletetillhe'sreadMarieCorelli."
ThiswasconsideredaverygoodhitatMrs.Clibborn,andthedearpeoplesmiledatoneanothersignificantly.EvenMarycouldscarcelykeepastraightface.
Theteathenappeared,andwastakenmoreorlesssilently.WiththeexceptionofthefashionableMrs.Clibborn,theywereallmoreusedtomakingasit-downmealofit,andthecareofholdingacup,withapieceofcakeunsteadilybalancedinthesaucer,preventedthemfromindulginginverybrilliantconversationalfeatstheyfoundonegymnasticexercisequitesufficientatatime.Butwhenthetea-cupsweresafelyrestoredtothetable,Mrs.Jacksonsuggestedalittlemusic.
"Willyouopentheproceedings,Mary?"
ThecuratewentuptoMissClibbornwithabow,gallantlyofferinghisarmtoescorthertothepiano.Maryhadthoughtfullybroughthermusic,andbegantoplaya'SongWithoutWords,'byMendelssohn.ShewasconsideredafinepianistinLittlePrimpton.Sheattackedthenoteswithmarkedresolution,keepingtheloudpedaldownthroughouthereyeswerefixedonthemusicwithanintense,determinedair,inwhichyousawan