"Conversaziones will come to mean nothing," she said to the bishop,
putting great stress on the latter word, "nothing at all, if they are
to be treated in this way."
"No, they won't; nothing in the least," said the bishop.
"Dancing may be very well in its place," said Mrs. Proudie.
"I have never objected to it myself; that is, for the laity," said
the bishop.
"But when people profess to assemble for higher objects," said Mrs.
Proudie, "they ought to act up to their professions."
"Otherwise they are no better than hypocrites," said the bishop.
"A spade should be called a spade," said Mrs. Proudie.
"Decidedly," said the bishop, assenting.
"And when I undertook the trouble and expense of introducing
conversaziones," continued Mrs. Proudie, with an evident feeling that
she had been ill-used, "I had no idea of seeing the word so--so--so
misinterpreted;" and then observing certain desirable acquaintances
at the other side of the room, she went across, leaving the bishop to
fend for himself.
Lady Lufton, having achieved her success, passed on to the dancing,
whither it was not probable that her enemy would follow her, and she
had not been there very long before she was joined by her son. Her
heart at the present moment was not quite satisfied at the state of
affairs with reference to Griselda.
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