But this was too gross a departure from delicacy of thought and phrase,
and Miss Le Pettit, the prick stirring, perchance, signified as much by
the cold manner in which she brought back the conversation to the more
correct and really more enthralling subject of the Alexandra jacket.

It was generally agreed that Miss Belben, of Bugletown, could not go far
wrong with the sleeves if Flora would be so infinitely good as to lend
her jacket for a copy, and this favour she accorded graciously to her
dear friend, Emilia.

Mr. Constantine walked down the windy hill with his mind already clear
both of Loveday and the elegant company in which he had been taking tea.
He was, above all things, a philosopher, and that means that, though his
imagination was easily touched, his heart remained unstirred, He had
serious thoughts of ordering a new cabriolet, and on arriving at the
market place, he turned into the coachbuilder's to renew the discussion
as to whether red or canary yellow were the more fashionable hue for
the wheels.



CHAPTER I: IN WHICH THE READER IS TAKEN
BACK A FEW WEEKS IN POINT OF TIME, AND
DOWN SEVERAL STEPS IN THE SOCIAL SCALE




Chapter I