They passed one of their delightful quiet days, in which they paved the future with gold, and, if I may use so bold a figure, lifted parasols against the great sun that was to shine on them.  Now they listened to Emilia, and now strolled in the garden; conversed on the social skill of Lady Gosstre, who was nevertheless narrow in her range; and on the capacities of mansions, on the secret of mixing people in society, and what to do with the women!  A terrible problem, this latter one.  Not terrible (to hostesses) at a mere rout or drum, or at a dance pure and simple, but terrible when you want good talk to circulate for then they are not, as a body, amused; and when they are not amused, you know, they are not inclined to be harmless; and in this state they are vipers; and where is society then?  And yet you cannot do without them!—­which is the revolting mystery.  I need not say that I am not responsible for these critical remarks.  Such tenderness to the sex comes only from its sisters.

So went a day rich in fair dreams to the ladies; and at the hour of their father’s return they walked across the parvenu park, in a state of enthusiasm for Besworth, that threw some portion of its decorative light on the, donor of Besworth.  When his carriage was heard on the road, they stood fast, and greeted his appearance with a display of pocket-handkerchiefs in the breeze, a proceeding that should have astonished him, being novel; but seemed not to do so, for it was immediately responded to by the vigorous waving of a pair of pocket-handkerchiefs from the carriage-window!  The ladies smiled at this piece of simplicity which prompted him to use both his hands, as if one would not have been enough.  Complacently they continued waving.  Then Adela looked at her sisters; Cornelia’s hand dropped and Arabella, the last to wave, was the first to exclaim:  “That must be a woman’s arm!”

The carriage stopped at the gate, and it was one in the dress of a woman at least, and of the compass of a big woman, who descended by the aid of Mr. Pole.  Safely alighted, she waved her pocket-handkerchief afresh.  The ladies of Brookfield did not speak to one another; nor did they move their eyes from the object approaching.  A simultaneous furtive extinction of three pocket-handkerchiefs might have been noticed.  There was no further sign given.

CHAPTER XV

A letter from Brookfield apprised Wilfrid that Mr. Pole had brought Mrs. Chump to the place as a visitor, and that she was now in the house.  Formal as a circular, the idea of it appeared to be that the bare fact would tell him enough and inspire him with proper designs.  No reply being sent, a second letter arrived, formal too, but pointing out his duty to succour his afflicted family, and furnishing a few tragic particulars.  Thus he learnt, that while Mr. Pole was advancing toward the three grouped ladies, on the day of Mrs. Chump’s arrival, he called