about Arthur not having proper
clothes--I'll put 'evening dress optional' on the invitations."

"I shouldn't do that," said Ellen, and laughed in a way that made Joanna
feel uncomfortable. "I really don't want to come in the least--it would
be very dreary driving to and fro."

"Then what's the matter, dearie?"

"Matter? There's nothing the matter."

But Joanna knew that Ellen felt sore, and failing to discover the reason
herself at last applied to Arthur Alce.

"If you ask me," said Arthur, "it's because she's only a farmer's wife."

"Why should that upset her all of a sudden?"

"Well, folks don't give her the consequence she'd like; and now she sees
you having gentry at your table ..."

"I'd have had her at it too, only she didn't want to come, and you
haven't got the proper clothes. Arthur, if you take my advice, you'll go
into Lydd this very day and buy yourself an evening suit."

"Ellen won't let me. She says I'd look a clown in it."

"Ellen's getting very short. What's happened to her these days?"

"It's only that she likes gentlefolk and is fit to mix with them; and
after all, Jo, I'm nothing but a pore common man."

"I hope you don't complain of her, Arthur?"

"Oh, no--I've no complaints--don't you think it. And don't you go saying
anything to her, Jo."

"Then what am I to do about it? I won't have her troubling you, nor
herself, neither. I tell you what I'll do--look here!--I--I--" Joanna
gave a loud sacrificial gulp--"I'll make it middle-day dinner instead of
late, and then you won't have to wear evening dress, and Ellen can come
and meet the Old Squire. She should ought to, seeing as he gave her a
pearl locket when she was married. It won't be near so fine as having
it in the evening, but I don't want neither her nor you to be upset--and
I can always call it 'lunch' ..."

Sec.23

As the result of Joanna's self-denial, Ellen and Arthur were able to
meet Sir Harry Trevor and his sister at luncheon at Ansdore. The
luncheon did not differ in any respect from the dinner as at first
proposed. There was soup--much to Ellen's annoyance, as Arthur had never
been able to master the etiquette of its consumption--and a leg of
mutton and roast fowls, and a large fig pudding, washed down with some
really good wine, for Joanna had asked the wine-merchant at Rye
uncompromisingly for his best--"I don't mind what I pay so long as it's
that"--and had been served accordingly. Mene Tekel waited, with creak