Mary and Agnes brought up the rear. Mr. Henry was on the watch, and
directly his wife appeared wheeled forward the best armchair and placed
her in it, with a footstool under her feet. Mary planted Jinny next her
and left them to their talk of nurseries: for Richard's sake she wished
to screen Agnes from the vulgarities of Mrs. Devine. Herself she saw
with dismay, on entering, that Richard had already been pounced on by
the husband: there he stood, listening to his ex-greengrocer's words--
they were interlarded with many an awkward and familiar gesture--on his
face an expression his wife knew well, while one small, impatient hand
tugged at his whiskers.
But "old Mrs. Ocock" came to his rescue, bearing down upon him with an
outstretched hand, and a howdee-do that could be heard all over the
room: Tilly had long forgotten that she had ever borne him a grudge; she
it was who could now afford to patronise. "I hope I see you well,
doctor?--Oh, not a bit of it. . . . I left him at 'ome. Mr. O. has
something wrong, if you please, with his leg or his big toe--gout or
rheumatiz or something of that sort--and 'e's been so crabby with it
for the last day or so that to-night I said to 'im: 'No, my dear, you'll
just take a glass of hot toddy, and go early and comfortable to your
bed.' Musical parties aren't in his line anyhow."
A lively clatter of tongues filled the room, the space of which was
taxed to its utmost: there were present, besides the friends and
intimates of the house, several of Mahony's colleagues, a couple of Bank
Managers, the Police Magistrate, the Postmaster, the Town Clerk, all
with their ladies.
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