w it had been a going on in foreign parts last year, Mrs.
Pincott says, 'Hold your silly tongue, Trimmer,' she says; 'Miss Ethel
marry a painter, indeed, Trimmer!' says she, 'while she has refused to
be a Countess,' she says; 'and can be a Marchioness any day, and will
be a Marchioness. Marry a painter, indeed!' Mrs. Pincott says; 'Trimmer,
I'm surprised at your impidence.' So, my dear, I got angry at that,"
Clive's champion continued, "and says I, if my young master ain't good
enough for any young lady in this world, says I, I'd like you to show
her to me: and if his dear father, the Colonel, says I, ain't as good
as your old gentleman upstairs, says I, who has gruel and dines upon
doctor's stuff, the Mrs. Pincott, says I, my name isn't what it is,
says I. Those were my very words, Master Clive, my dear; and then Mrs.
Pincott says, Mrs. Hicks, she says, you don't understand society, she
says; you don't understand society, he! he!" and the country lady, with
considerable humour, gave an imitation of the town lady's manner.

At this juncture Miss Honeyman re-entered the parlour, arrayed in her
Sunday bonnet, her stiff and spotless collar, her Cashmere shawl, and
Agra brooch, and carrying her Bible and Prayer-Book each stitched in its
neat cover of brown silk. "Don't stay chattering here, you idle woman,"
she cried to her attendant with extreme asperity. "And you, sir, if you
wish to smoke your cigar, you had best walk down to the cliff where the
Cockneys are!" she added, glowering at Clive.

"Now I understand it all," Clive said, trying to deprecate her anger.
"My dear good aunt, it's a most absurd mistake; upon my honour, Miss
Ethel is as innocent as you are."

"Innocent or not, this house is not intended for assignations, Clive! As
long as Sir Brian Newcome lodges here, you will be pleased to keep away
from it, sir; and though I don't approve of Sunday travelling, I think
the very best thing you can do is to put yourself in the train and go
back to London."

And now, young people, who read my moral pages, you will see how highly
imprudent it is to sit with your cousins in railway carriages; and how,
though you may not mean the slightest harm in the world, a great deal
may be attributed to you; and how, when you think you are managing your
little absurd love-affairs ever so quietly, Jeames and Betsy in the
servants'-hall are very likely talking about them, and you are putting
yourself in the power of those menials. I