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Chapter 20. Moving in Society

           ‘No,’saidMrsMerdle,droppingherglass.‘Hasnotaprofessionalair.Verypleasant;butnotprofessional.’

           ‘Mysister,ma’am,’saidFanny,inwhomtherewasasingularmixtureofdeferenceandhardihood,‘hasbeenaskingmetotellher,asbetweensisters,howIcametohavethehonourofknowingyou.AndasIhadengagedtocalluponyouoncemore,IthoughtImighttakethelibertyofbringingherwithme,whenperhapsyouwouldtellher.Iwishhertoknow,andperhapsyouwilltellher?’

           ‘Doyouthink,atyoursister’sage—’hintedMrsMerdle.

           ‘Sheismucholderthanshelooks,’saidFanny;‘almostasoldasIam.’

           ‘Society,’saidMrsMerdle,withanothercurveofherlittlefinger,‘issodifficulttoexplaintoyoungpersons(indeedissodifficulttoexplaintomostpersons),thatIamgladtohearthat.IwishSocietywasnotsoarbitrary,Iwishitwasnotsoexacting—Bird,bequiet!’

           Theparrothadgivenamostpiercingshriek,asifitsnamewereSocietyanditasserteditsrighttoitsexactions.

           ‘But,’resumedMrsMerdle,‘wemusttakeitaswefindit.Weknowitishollowandconventionalandworldlyandveryshocking,butunlessweareSavagesintheTropicalseas(Ishouldhavebeencharmedtobeonemyself—mostdelightfullifeandperfectclimate,Iamtold),wemustconsultit.Itisthecommonlot.

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