Місіс Деллоуей

           Whichwasshenow,theGeneral’sgreat-grand-daughter?great-great-grand-daughter?RichardDallowayaskedhimself.SirRoderick,SirMiles,SirTalbot—thatwasit.Itwasremarkablehowinthatfamilythelikenesspersistedinthewomen.Sheshouldhavebeenageneralofdragoonsherself.AndRichardwouldhaveservedunderher,cheerfully;hehadthegreatestrespectforher;hecherishedtheseromanticviewsaboutwell-set-upoldwomenofpedigree,andwouldhaveliked,inhisgood-humouredway,tobringsomeyounghot-headsofhisacquaintancetolunchwithher;asifatypelikeherscouldbebredofamiabletea-drinkingenthusiasts!Heknewhercountry.Heknewherpeople.Therewasavine,stillbearing,whicheitherLovelaceorHerrick—sheneverreadawordpoetryofherself,butsothestoryran—hadsatunder.Betterwaittoputbeforethemthequestionthatbotheredher(aboutmakinganappealtothepublic;ifso,inwhattermsandsoon),betterwaituntiltheyhavehadtheircoffee,LadyBrutonthought;andsolaidthecarnationsdownbesideherplate.

           “How’sClarissa?”sheaskedabruptly.

           ClarissaalwayssaidthatLadyBrutondidnotlikeher.Indeed,LadyBrutonhadthereputationofbeingmoreinterestedinpoliticsthanpeople;oftalkinglikeaman;ofhavinghadafingerinsomenotoriousintrigueoftheeighties,whichwasnowbeginningtobementionedinmemoirs.