But she is certainly a great ass." Gertrude looked serious, to imply that she had grown out of the habit of using or listening to such language.

Agatha, stimulated by this, continued: "Here are you and I, who consider ourselves twice as presentable and conversable as she, two old maids." Gertrude winced, and Agatha hastened to add: "Why, as for you, you are perfectly lovely! And she has asked us down expressly to marry us." "She would not presume--" "Nonsense, my dear Gertrude.

She thinks that we are a couple of fools who have mismanaged our own business, and that she, having managed so well for herself, can settle us in a jiffy.

Come, did she not say to you, before I came, that it was time for me to be getting married ?" "Well, she did.

But--" "She said exactly the same thing to me about you when she invited me." "I would leave her house this moment," said Gertrude, "if I thought she dared meddle in my affairs.