Chapter 20

           "OfcoursewemustdinewithMrs.Carfry,dearest,"Archersaid;andhiswifelookedathimwithananxiousfrownacrossthemonumentalBritanniawareoftheirlodginghousebreakfast-table.InalltherainydesertofautumnalLondontherewereonlytwopeoplewhomtheNewlandArchersknew;andthesetwotheyhadsedulouslyavoided,inconformitywiththeoldNewYorktraditionthatitwasnot"dignified"toforceone’sselfonthenoticeofone’sacquaintancesinforeigncountries.Mrs.ArcherandJaney,inthecourseoftheirvisitstoEurope,hadsounflinchinglyliveduptothisprinciple,andmetthefriendlyadvancesoftheirfellow-travellerswithanairofsuchimpenetrablereserve,thattheyhadalmostachievedtherecordofneverhavingexchangedawordwitha"foreigner"otherthanthoseemployedinhotelsandrailway-stations.Theirowncompatriots—savethosepreviouslyknownorproperlyaccredited—theytreatedwithanevenmorepronounceddisdain;sothat,unlesstheyranacrossaChivers,aDagonetoraMingott,theirmonthsabroadwerespentinanunbrokentete-a-tete.Buttheutmostprecautionsaresometimesunavailing;andonenightatBotzenoneofthetwoEnglishladiesintheroomacrossthepassage(whosenames,dressandsocialsituationwerealreadyintimatelyknowntoJaney)hadknockedonthedoorandaskedifMrs.Archerhadabottleofliniment.Theotherlady—theintruder’ssister,Mrs.Carfry—hadbeenseizedwithasuddenattackofbronchitis;andMrs.Archer,whonevertravelledwithoutacompletefamilypharmacy,wasfortunatelyabletoproducetherequiredremedy.Mrs.