"
"Of course," said Mrs. Arabin. "But as to this special lesson, I am
inclined to doubt that it--"
"Ah-h! I fear it is too true. I fear there is no room for doubt. Of
course you are aware that Lord Dumbello is off for the Continent."
Mrs Arabin was not aware of it, and she was obliged to admit as much.
"He started four days ago, by way of Boulogne," said Mrs. Tickler,
who seemed to be very well up in the whole affair. "I am so sorry for
poor dear Griselda. I am told she has got all her things. It is such
a pity, you know."
"But why should not Lord Dumbello come back from the Continent?" said
Miss Bold, very quietly.
"Why not, indeed? I'm sure I hope he may," said Mrs. Proudie. "And no
doubt he will, some day. But if he be such a man as they say he is,
it is really well for Griselda that she should be relieved from such
a marriage. For, after all, Mrs. Arabin, what are the things of this
world?--dust beneath our feet, ashes between our teeth, grass cut for
the oven, vanity, vexation, and nothing more!"--well pleased with
which variety of Christian metaphors Mrs. Proudie walked on, still
muttering, however, something about worms and grubs, by which she
intended to signify her own species and the Dumbello and Grantly
sects of it in particular.
Pages:
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806