Chapter 16

           EverybodyinandaboutHighburywhohadevervisitedMr.Elton,wasdisposedtopayhimattentiononhismarriage.Dinner-partiesandevening-partiesweremadeforhimandhislady;andinvitationsflowedinsofastthatshehadsoonthepleasureofapprehendingtheywerenevertohaveadisengagedday.

           "Iseehowitis,"saidshe."IseewhatalifeIamtoleadamongyou.Uponmywordweshallbeabsolutelydissipated.Wereallyseemquitethefashion.Ifthisislivinginthecountry,itisnothingveryformidable.FromMondaynexttoSaturday,Iassureyouwehavenotadisengagedday!—AwomanwithfewerresourcesthanIhave,neednothavebeenataloss."

           Noinvitationcameamisstoher.HerBathhabitsmadeevening-partiesperfectlynaturaltoher,andMapleGrovehadgivenheratastefordinners.Shewasalittleshockedatthewantoftwodrawingrooms,atthepoorattemptatrout-cakes,andtherebeingnoiceintheHighburycard-parties.Mrs.Bates,Mrs.Perry,Mrs.Goddardandothers,wereagooddealbehind-handinknowledgeoftheworld,butshewouldsoonshewthemhoweverythingoughttobearranged.Inthecourseofthespringshemustreturntheircivilitiesbyoneverysuperiorparty—inwhichhercard-tablesshouldbesetoutwiththeirseparatecandlesandunbrokenpacksinthetruestyle—andmorewaitersengagedfortheeveningthantheirownestablishmentcouldfurnish,tocarryroundtherefreshmentsatexactlytheproperhour,andintheproperorder.