e. Mrs. Enderby--was mistress of
Viola's movements, and did not leave her much time to waste upon us.
In fact, Mrs. Enderby, though perfectly civil, was evidently hostile
to us, and tried to keep her sister out of our way as much as she
could, thickening engagements upon her, at which Viola made all the
comical murmurs her Irish blood could prompt, but of course in vain.
Eustace's great ambition was to follow her to her parties, and Lady
Diana favoured him when she could; but Harold would have nothing to
do with such penances. He never missed a chance of seeing Viola come
down attired for them, but, as he once said, "that was enough for
him." He did not want to see her handed about and grimaced at by a
lot of fine gentlemen who did not seem to think anything worth the
trouble; and as to the crowd and the stifling, they made him feel
ready to strike out and knock everyone down.
So much Eustace and I elicited in short sentences one day, when we
were rather foolishly urging on him to let himself be taken with us
to an evening party. No, he went his own way and took Dora with him,
and I was quite sure that they were safe together, and that after his
year's experience he was to be trusted to know where it was fitting
to take her. They saw a good deal that was more entertaining than we
could venture on; and, moreover, Harold improved his mind
considerably in the matters of pottery, porcelain, and model lodging-
houses.
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