Thank goodness, she only
stayed to tea, as she had a ten mile drive back to her hotel. As it was,
lots of things happened."
"What happened?"
"Well, first when she got out of the carriage, covered with jet anchor
chains--for you know Uncle Samuel died only three months ago and left
her all his money--she caught sight of our heads staring at her out of
the drawing-room window, and asked father if he kept a girls' school.
Then she made mother cry by remarking that she ought to be thankful to
Providence for having taken to its bosom the four of us who died young
--you know she has no children herself and so can't feel about them.
Also father was furious because she told him that at least half of us
should have been boys. He turned quite pink and said:
"'I have been taught, Lady Thompson, that these are matters which God
Almighty keeps in His own hands, and to Him I must refer you.'
"'Good gracious! don't get angry,' she answered. 'If you clergymen can
cross-examine your Maker, I am not in that position. Besides, they are
all very good-looking girls who may find husbands, if they ever see a
man. So things might have been worse.'
"Then she made remarks about the tea, for Uncle Samuel was a
tea-merchant; and lastly that wicked Janey sent the footman to take
the pug dog to walk past the butcher's shop where the fighting terrier
lives.
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