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Chapter 17
BesidesSirMalcolmandhistwodaughters,thereweresevenmorepeople,aScotchcouple,againwithtwodaughters;ayoungItalianContessa,awidow;ayoungGeorgianprince,andayoungishEnglishclergymanwhohadhadpneumoniaandwasbeingchaplaintoSirAlexanderforhishealth’ssake.Theprincewaspenniless,good-looking,wouldmakeanexcellentchauffeur,withthenecessaryimpudence,andbasta!TheContessawasaquietlittlepusswithagameonsomewhere.TheclergymanwasarawsimplefellowfromaBucksvicarage:luckilyhehadlefthiswifeandtwochildrenathome.AndtheGuthries,thefamilyoffour,weregoodsolidEdinburghmiddleclass,enjoyingeverythinginasolidfashion,anddaringeverythingwhileriskingnothing.
ConnieandHildaruledouttheprinceatonce.TheGuthriesweremoreorlesstheirownsort,substantial,butboring:andthegirlswantedhusbands.Thechaplainwasnotabadfellow,buttoodeferential.SirAlexander,afterhisslightstroke,hadaterribleheavinesshisjoviality,buthewasstillthrilledatthepresenceofsomanyhandsomeyoungwomen.LadyCooperwasaquiet,cattypersonwhohadathintimeofit,poorthing,andwhowatchedeveryotherwomanwithacoldwatchfulnessthathadbecomehersecondnature,andwhosaidcold,nastylittlethingswhichshowedwhatanutterlylowopinionshehadofallhumannature.Shewasalsoquitevenomouslyoverbearingwiththeservants,Conniefound:butinaquietway.