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Tales and Novels — Volume 05 by Maria Edgeworth
page 55 of 572 (09%)

"To think! Oh, my dear doctor, you might have guessed that was only a
sham opposition."

"But, my dear ma'am," cried Dr. Wheeler, who, though the mildest of men,
was now worked up to something like indignation, "my dear ma'am--sham
upon sham is too much for any man!"

The doctor went down stairs murmuring. Thus, by excess of hypocrisy, our
heroine disgusted even her own adherents, in which she has the honour to
resemble some of the most wily politicians famous in English history.
But she was too wise ever to let any one who could serve or injure her
go discontented out of her presence.

"My dear, good Dr. Wheeler, I never saw you angry before. Come, come,"
cried Mrs. Beaumont, sliding a _douceur_ into his hand, "friends must
not be vexed for trifles; it was only a mistake _de part et d'autre_,
and you'll return here to-morrow, in your way home, and breakfast with
us; and now we understand one another. And," added she, in a whisper,
"we can talk over things, and have your cool judgment best, when only
you, and I, and Mr. Palmer, are present. You comprehend."

Those who practise many manoeuvres, and carry on many intrigues at the
same time, have this advantage, that if one fails, the success of
another compensates for the disappointment. However she might have been
vexed by this slight _contre-temps_ with Dr. Wheeler, Mrs. Beaumont had
ample compensation of different sorts this day; some due to her own
exertions, some owing to accident. Her own exertions prevented her dear
Albina Hunter from returning; for Mrs. Beaumont never sent the promised
carriage--only a note of apology--a nail had run into one of the
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