Otho Pelham, M.A., Vicar Of All Saints,
Upper Norwood, Dr. Philosophial Konrad Rasch, Of Koetzsenbroda,
Saxony, To Evelyn Whitaker
Rake, widow of the late Richard Balaclava
Rake, Barrister-at-law of the Inner Temple and Bombay, and third
surviving
Daughter of George Frederic Goldspink, C.B., of Sydenham
House, Craig Hill, Commissioner of Her Majesty's Customs, and
formerly of the War Office.'"
By the time this was finished we were all quite exhausted, but we
revived like magic when Salemina read us her contribution:-
"'A NAME ENSHRINED IN LITERATURE AND RENOWNED IN COMMERCE, - Miss
Willard, Waddington, Essex. Deal with her whenever you possibly
can. When you want to purchase, ask her for anything under the
canopy of heaven, from jewels, bijouterie, and curios to rare books
and high-class articles of utility. When you want to sell, consign
only to her, from choice gems to mundane objects. All transactions
embodying the germs of small profits are welcome. As a sample of
her stock please note: A superlatively exquisite, essentially
beautiful, and important lace flounce for sale, at a reasonable
price. Also a bargain of peerlessly choice character. - Six grandly
glittering paste cluster buttons, of important size, emitting
dazzling rays of incomparable splendour and lustre. Don't readily
forget this or her name and address, - Clara (Miss) Willard (the Lady
Trader), Waddington, Essex. Immaculate promptitude and scrupulous
liberality observed: therefore, on these credentials, ye must deal
with her; it is the duty of intellect to be reciprocal.'"
Just here Dawson entered, evidently to lay the dinner-cloth, but,
seeing that we had a visitor, he took the tea-tray and retired
discreetly.
"It is five-and-thirty minutes past six, Mr. Beresford," I said.
"Do you think you can get to the Metropole and array yourself and
return in less than an hour? Because, even if you can, remember
that we ladies have elaborate toilets in prospect, - toilets intended
for the complete prostration of the British gentry. Francesca has a
yellow gown which will drive Bertie Godolphin to madness. Salemina
has laid out a soft, dovelike grey and steel combination, directed
towards the Church of England; for you may not know that Sally has a
vicar in her train, Mr. Beresford, and he will probably speak to-
night. As for me-"
Before these shocking personalities were finished Salemina and
Francesca had fled to their rooms, and Mr. Beresford took up my
broken sentence and said, "As for you, Miss Hamilton, whatever gown
you wear, you are sure to make one man speak, if you care about it;
but, I suppose, you would not listen to him unless he were English";
and with that shot he departed.
I really think I shall have to give up the Francesca hypothesis,
and, alas! I am not quite ready to adopt any other.
We discussed international marriages while we were at our toilets,
Salemina and I prinking by the light of one small candle-end, while
Francesca, as the youngest and prettiest, illuminated her charms
with the six sitting-room candles and three filched from the little
table in the hall.
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