Part 15 (1/2)
”And how lovely you keep your house,” Madeline went on, ”and what taste you have shown in arranging your furniture.”
Mrs. Tuke's face relaxed somewhat, and she gave the corner of the table cloth a little tug to straighten it.
”I think people stamp their character on everything they do, don't you, Mrs. Tuke? If a woman is a lady the house shows it. Look at these flowers how beautifully arranged they are,” and Madeline bent down her head and sniffed at them.
”Some people never notice such things,” Mrs. Tuke said, in an aggrieved tone.
”Oh, Mrs. Tuke! how can they help it; I am sure you would recognise taste and beauty anywhere.”
”So many of the women hereabouts have no taste,” Mrs. Tuke replied.
”They keep their houses any fas.h.i.+on. I always say you can tell what a house is like by the window curtains. You need not put your head inside the door.”
”I quite agree with you, Mrs. Tuke. May I ask where you send your curtains to be got up so beautifully?”
”I get 'em up myself.”
”No?”
”I do, indeed,” and Mrs. Tuke smiled upon her visitor most benignantly.
”How clever you must be. Do you know I think we should become quite fast friends? We seem to understand each other so well. Some people never understand each other. Now, if you were like some narrow, uncharitable people you would not approve of my calling to see Mr. Sterne.”
Mrs. Tuke started, and took a sidelong glance out of the window.
”And I have no doubt,” Madeline went on, ”if some of the people in St.
Gaved got to know that I was in the habit of calling here they would say all sorts of uncharitable things.”
”I've not the least doubt of it,” Mrs. Tuke said, severely.
”It is so nice to think you are not one of that sort,” Madeline said, with a winning smile. ”If I came here fifty times I know you would not talk about it. You see you understand people, Mrs. Tuke. And in America, as you know, girls have so much more freedom than they have in this country.”
”So I've heard.”
”It's natural, perhaps; they go to the same State schools together, and they grow up to respect each other. The girls learn self-reliance, and the boys chivalry.”
”That sounds very nice,” Mrs. Tuke remarked, with an interested look.
”It ought to be so everywhere. I don't think much of a girl who is not able to take care of herself.”
”But men are not to be trusted, my dear,” Mrs. Tuke said, with a pained expression in her eyes.
”Then they should be avoided and ostracised.”
”Yes, I quite agree with you,” Mrs. Tuke said, doubtfully; ”but had you not better go and see Mr. Sterne now? Between ourselves, I believe he will be terribly impatient.”
”And we'll renew our interesting conversation some other time.”
”It's kind of you to want to talk to an old woman like me.”