‘And on occasion a little extra civility is permitted!’

‘Perhaps:  when we are not seeking a personal advantage.’

‘On behalf of the Steam Laundry?’

Miss Mattock grew restless:  she was too serious in defending her position to submit to laugh, and his goodhumoured face forbade her taking offence.

‘Well, perhaps, for that is in the interest of others.’

’In the interests of poor and helpless females.  And I agree with you with all my heart.  But you would not be so considerate for the sore feelings of a father hearing what he hates to hear as to write a roundabout word to soften bad news to him?’

She sought refuge in the reply that nothing excused jesuitry.

‘Except the necessities of civilisation,’ said Patrick.

‘Politeness is one thing,’ she remarked pointedly.

’And domestic politeness is quite as needful as popular, you’ll admit.  And what more have we done in the letter than to be guilty of that?  And people declare it’s rarer:  as if we were to be shut up in families to tread on one another’s corns!  Dear me! and after a time we should be having rank jesuitry advertised as the specific balsam for an unhappy domesticated population treading with hard heels from desperate habit and not the slightest intention to wound.’

‘My dear Jane,’ Mrs. Adister interposed while the young lady sat between mildly staring and blinking, ’you have, though still of a tender age, so excellent a head that I could trust to your counsel blindfolded.  It is really deep concern for my brother.  I am also strongly in sympathy with my niece, the princess, that beautiful Adiante:  and my conscience declines to let me say that I am not.’

’We might perhaps presume to beg for Miss Mattock’s assistance in the composition of a second letter more to her taste,’ Patrick said slyly.

The effect was prompt:  she sprang from her seat.

’Dear Mrs. Adister!  I leave it to you.  I am certain you and Mr. O’Donnell know best.  It’s too difficult and delicate for me.  I am horribly blunt.  Forgive me if I seemed to pretend to casuistry.  I am sure I had no such meaning.  I said what I thought.  I always do.  I never meant that it was not a very clever letter; and if it does exactly what you require it should be satisfactory.  To-morrow evening John and I dine with you, and I look forward to plenty of controversy and amusement.  At present I have only a head for work.’

‘I wish I had that,’ said Patrick devoutly.

She dropped her eyes on him, but without letting him perceive that he was a step nearer to the point of pleasing her.

CHAPTER XIII

THE DINNER-PARTY

Miss Mattock ventured on a prediction in her mind: