Together mistress and dog passed out of the front door and down the short path to the gate.
Miss Lawson stood in the doorway smiling rather foolishly after them, her mouth a little open. Behind her a voice said tartly:
Them[15] pillowcases you gave me, miss, isnt a pair.
What? How stupid of me
Minnie Lawson plunged once more into household routine.
Emily Arundell, attended by Bob, made a royal progress[16] down the main street of Market Basing.
It was very much of a royal progress. In each shop she entered the proprietor always hurried forward to attend to her.
She was Miss Arundell of Littlegreen House. She was one of our oldest customers. She was one of the old school. Not many about like her nowadays.
Good morning, miss. What can I have the pleasure of doing for youNot tender? Well, Im sorry to hear that. I thought myself it was as nice a little saddleYes, of course, Miss Arundell. If you say so, it is soNo, indeed I wouldnt think of sending Canterbury[17] to you, Miss ArundellYes, Ill see to it myself, Miss Arundell.
Bob and Spot, the butchers dog, circled slowly round each other, hackles raised[18], growling gently. Spot was a stout dog of nondescript breed. He knew that he must not fight with customers dogs, but he permitted himself to tell them, by subtle indication, just exactly what mincemeat he would make of them[19] were he free to do so.
Bob, a dog of spirit, replied in kind.
Emily Arundell said Bob! sharply and passed on.
In the greengrocers there was a meeting of heavenly bodies. Another old lady, spherical in outline, but equally distinguished by that air of royalty, said:
Mornin, Emily.
Good morning, Caroline.
Caroline Peabody said:
Expecting any of your young people down[20]?
Yes, all of them. Theresa, Charles and Bella.
So Bellas home, is she? Husband too?
Yes.
It was a simple monosyllable, but underlying it was knowledge common to both ladies.
For Bella Biggs, Emily Arundells niece, had married a Greek. And Emily Arundells people, who were what is known as all service people, simply did not marry Greeks.
By way of being obscurely comforting (for of course such a matter could not be referred to openly) Miss Peabody said:
Bellas husbands got brains. And charming manners!
His manners are delightful, agreed Miss Arundell. Moving out into the street Miss Peabody asked:
Whats this about Theresa being engaged to young Donaldson?
Miss Arundell shrugged her shoulders.
Young people are so casual nowadays. Im afraid it will have to be a rather long engagementthat is, if anything comes of it. He has no money.
Of course Theresa has her own money, said Miss Peabody.
Miss Arundell said stiffly:
A man could not possibly wish to live on his wifes money.
Miss Peabody gave a rich, throaty chuckle.
They dont seem to mind doing it, nowadays. You and I are out of date[21], Emily. What I cant understand is what the child sees in him. Of all the namby-pamby[22] young men!
Hes a clever doctor, I believe.
Those pince-nez[23]and that stiff way of talking! In my young days wed have called him a poor stick!
There was a pause while Miss Peabodys memory, diving into the past, conjured up visions of dashing, bewhiskered young men
She said with a sigh:
Send that young dog Charles along to see meif hell come.
Of course. Ill tell him.
The two ladies parted.
They had known each other for considerably over fifty years. Miss Peabody knew of certain regrettable lapses in the life of General Arundell, Emilys father. She knew just precisely what a shock Thomas Arundells marriage had been to his sisters. She had a very shrewd idea of certain troubles connected with the younger generation.
But no word had ever passed between the two ladies on any of these subjects. They were both upholders of family dignity, family solidarity, and complete reticence on family matters.
Miss Arundell walked home, Bob trotting sedately at her heels. To herself, Emily Arundell admitted what she would never have admitted to another human being, her dissatisfaction with the younger generation of her family.
Theresa, for instance. She had no control over Theresa since the latter had come into her own money at the age of twenty-one. Since then the girl had achieved a certain notoriety. Her picture was often in the papers. She belonged to a young, bright, go-ahead set in Londona set that had freak parties and occasionally ended up in the police courts. It was not the kind of notoriety that Emily Arundell approved of for an Arundell. In fact, she disapproved very much of Theresas way of living. As regards[24] the girls engagement, her feelings were slightly confused. On the one hand[25] she did not consider an upstart Dr Donaldson good enough for an Arundell. On the other[26] she was uneasily conscious that Theresa was a most unsuitable wife for a quiet country doctor.
With a sigh her thoughts passed on to Bella. There was no fault to find with Bella[27]. She was a good womana devoted wife and mother, quite exemplary in behaviour and extremely dull! But even Bella could not be regarded with complete approval. For Bella had married a oreigner and not only a foreignerbut a Greek. In Miss Arundells prejudiced mind a Greek was almost as bad as an Argentine or a Turk. The fact that Dr Tanios had a charming manner and was said to be extremely able in his profession only prejudiced the old lady slightly more against him. She distrusted charm and easy compliments. For this reason, too, she found it difficult to be fond of the two children. They had both taken after[28] their father in looksthere was really nothing English about them.