Mrs. Gregory now took the prerogative of ladies, and began.  “I was thinking of what we had all just been saying during our visit across the way—­and with which you are not going to agree—­that our young people would do much better to let us old people arrange their marriages for them, as it Is done in Europe.”

“O dear!”

“I said that you would not agree; but that is because you are so young.”

“I don’t know that twenty-eight is so young.”

“You will know it when you are seventy-three.”  This observation again came from Mrs. Weguelin St. Michael, and again with a gentle and attractive smile.  It was only the second time that she had spoken; and throughout the talk into which we now fell as we slowly walked up and down High Walk, she never took the lead; she left that to the “downright” tongue—­but I noticed, however, that she chose her moments to follow the lead very aptly.  I also perceived plainly that what we were really going to discuss was not at all the European principle of marriage-making, but just simply young John and his Hortense; they were the true kernel of the nut with whose concealing shell Mrs. Gregory was presenting me, and in proposing an exchange of thoughts she would get back only more thoughts upon the same subject.  It was pretty evident how much Kings Port was buzzing over all this!  They fondly believed they did not like it; but what would they have done without it?  What, indeed, were they going to do when it was all over and done with, one way or another?  As a matter of fact, they ought to be grateful to Hortense for contributing illustriously to the excitement of their lives.

“Of course, I am well aware,” Mrs. Gregory pursued, “that the young people of to-day believe they can all ’teach their grandmothers to suck eggs,’ as we say in Kings Port.”

“We say it elsewhere, too,” I mildly put in.

“Indeed?  I didn’t know that the North, with its pest of Hebrew and other low immigrants, had retained any of the good old homely saws which we brought from England.  But do you imagine that if the control of marriage rested in the hands of parents and grandparents (where it properly belongs), you would be witnessing in the North this disgusting spectacle of divorce?”

“But, Mrs. St. Michael—­”

“We didn’t invite you to argue when we invited you to walk!” cried the lady, laughing.

“We should like you to answer the question,” said Mrs. Weguelin St. Michael.

“And tell us,” Mrs. Gregory continued, “if it’s your opinion that a boy who has never been married is a better judge of matrimony’s pitfalls than his father.”

“Or than any older person who has bravely and worthily gone through with the experience,” Mrs. Weguelin added.

“Ladies, I’ve no mind to argue.  But we’re ahead of Europe; we don’t need their clumsy old plan.”

Mrs. Gregory gave a gallant, incredulous snort.  “I shall be interested to learn of anything that is done better here than in Europe.”