Part 19 (1/2)

Miss Mackenzie declined it also.

”Oh, of course,” said Mr Rubb. ”If it's only next door it does not signify.”

Miss Todd welcomed them cordially, gloves and all. ”My dear,” she said to Miss Baker, ”I haven't seen you for twenty years. Miss Mackenzie, this is very kind of you. I hope we sha'n't do you any harm, as we are not going to be wicked to-night.”

Miss Mackenzie did not dare to say that she would have preferred to be wicked, but that is what she would have said if she had dared.

”Mr Rubb, I'm very happy to see you,” continued Miss Todd, accepting her guest's hand, glove and all. ”I hope they haven't made you believe that you are going to have any dancing, for, if so, they have hoaxed you shamefully.” Then she introduced them to Mr and Mrs Wilkinson.

Mr Wilkinson was a plain-looking clergyman, with a very pretty wife.

”Adela,” Miss Todd said to Mrs Wilkinson, ”you used to dance, but that's all done with now, I suppose.”

”I never danced much,” said the clergyman's wife, ”but have certainly given it up now, partly because I have no one to dance with.”

”Here's Mr Rubb quite ready. He'll dance with you, I'll be bound, if that's all.”

Mr Rubb became very red, and Miss Mackenzie, when she next took courage to look at him, saw that the gloves had disappeared.

There came also a Mr and Mrs Fuzzybell, and immediately afterwards Mr Maguire, whereupon Miss Todd declared her party to be complete.

”Mrs Fuzzybell, my dear, no cards!” said Miss Todd, quite out loud, with a tragic-comic expression in her face that was irresistible. ”Mr Fuzzybell, no cards!” Mrs Fuzzybell said that she was delighted to hear it. Mr Fuzzybell said that it did not signify. Miss Baker stole a glance at Mr Maguire, and shook in her shoes. Mr Maguire tried to look as though he had not heard it.

”Do you play cards much here?” asked Mr Rubb.

”A great deal too much, Sir,” said Miss Todd, shaking her head.

”Have you many Dissenters in your parish, Mr Wilkinson?” asked Mr Maguire.

”A good many,” said Mr Wilkinson.

”But no Papists?” suggested Mr Maguire.

”No, we have no Roman Catholics.”

”That is such a blessing!” said Mr Maguire, turning his eyes up to Heaven in a very frightful manner. But he had succeeded for the present in putting down Miss Todd and her cards.

They were now summoned round the tea-table,--a genuine tea-table at which it was expected that they should eat and drink. Miss Mackenzie was seated next to Mr Maguire on one side of the table, while Mr Rubb sat on the other between Miss Todd and Miss Baker. While they were yet taking their seats, and before the operations of the banquet had commenced, Susanna entered the room. She also had been specially invited, but she had not returned from school in time to accompany her aunt. The young lady had to walk round the room to shake hands with everybody, and when she came to Mr Rubb, was received with much affectionate urgency. He turned round in his chair and was loud in his praises. ”Miss Mackenzie,” said he, speaking across the table, ”I shall have to report in Gower Street that Miss Susanna has become quite the lady.” From that moment Mr Rubb had an enemy close to the object of his affections, who was always fighting a battle against him.

Susanna had hardly gained her seat, before Mr Maguire seized an opportunity which he saw might soon be gone, and sprang to his legs.

”Miss Todd,” said he, ”may I be permitted to ask a blessing?”

”Oh, certainly,” said Miss Todd; ”but I thought one only did that at dinner.”

Mr Maguire, however, was not the man to sit down without improving the occasion.

”And why not for tea also?” said he. ”Are they not gifts alike?”

”Very much alike,” said Miss Todd, ”and so is a cake at a pastry-cook's. But we don't say grace over our buns.”

”We do, in silence,” said Mr Maguire, still standing; ”and therefore we ought to have it out loud here.”