’And has five or six grown-up children, who, no doubt, will be a comfort.’

’If I don’t mind them, why need you?  You have none at all, and you find it lonely enough.’

’Not at all lonely.  I have everything that I desire.  How hard you are trying to be ill-natured, Georgiana.’

‘Why did you say that he was a—­butcher?’

’I said nothing of the kind.  I didn’t even say that he was like a butcher.  What I did say was this,—­that I don’t feel inclined to risk my own reputation on the appearance of new people at my table.  Of course, I go in for what you call fashion.  Some people can dare to ask anybody they meet in...