But I daresay the good Samaritan had some one at home who objected to the waste of that twopence he paid for the poor traveller." Mrs.Pallinson gave a little shriek of horror on hearing this allusion, and protested against so profane a use of the gospel.
"But the gospel was meant to be our guide in common things, wasn't it, Mrs.Pallinson?
However, there's not the least use in your being angry; for I mean to do what I can for Mr.Saltram, and there's no one in the world could turn me from my intention." "Indeed!" cried the elder lady, indignantly; "and when he recovers you mean to marry him, I daresay.

You will be weak enough to throw away your fortune upon a profligate and a spendthrift, a man who is certain to make any woman miserable." And hereupon there arose what Sheridan calls "a very pretty quarrel" between the two ladies, which went very near to end in Mrs.Pallinson's total withdrawal from Cavendish-square.

Very nearly, but not quite, to that agreeable consummation did matters proceed; for, on the very verge of the final words which could have spoken the sentence of separation, Mrs.Pallinson was suddenly melted, and declared that nothing, no outrage of her feelings--"and heaven knows how they have been trodden on this day," the injured matron added in parenthesis--should induce her to desert her dearest Adela.

And so there was a hollow peace patched up, and Mrs.Branston felt that the blessings of freedom, the delightful relief of an escape from Pallinsonian influences, were not yet to be hers.
Directly she heard from Gilbert that change of air had been ordered for the patient, she was eager to offer her villa near Maidenhead for his accommodation.

"The house is always kept in apple-pie order," she wrote to Gilbert; "and I can send down more servants to make everything comfortable for the invalid." "I know he is fond of the place," she added in conclusion, after setting out all the merits of the villa with feminine minuteness; "at least I know he used to like it, and I think it would please him to get well there.