You see, even your restraining presence
doesn't always keep us in order. I hope," she whispered to me, "I'm not
going to be made the horrid example to prove the truth of all my
theories."
Soon after this the party broke up. Claudia returned in her wraps to
say good-night to the Bishop's wife.
"Claudia!" Ideala exclaimed, "you have forgotten that detestable old
blue shawl."
Claudia tried to stop her with a significant gesture, but in vain.
Ideala was obtuse.
"Claudia came out this evening in the most extraordinary covering I
ever saw a lady wear," she said to the Bishop's wife. "I really think
she must have borrowed it from one of the maids."
"I am afraid you must mean the blue shawl I lent to Lady Claudia the
other evening," the Bishop's wife replied, with a hurt smile.
"Oh!" said Ideala, disconcerted for a moment. "But, really, Bishopess,
you deserve to be upbraided. You should set a better example, and not
provoke us to scorn on the subject of your shawls."
Later, when I was alone with my sister, I said: "Ideala did nothing but
put her foot in it this evening.
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