"
The smile of apologetic declination which had begun to form on Grant's
lips was suddenly arrested. "Then your daughter is here?" he asked, with
unaffected interest.
"Yes,--she is in fact a patroness of the library and sewing-circle, and
takes the greatest interest in it. The Reverend Doctor Pilsbury relies
upon her for everything. She runs the society, even to the training of
the young ladies, sir. You shall see their exercises."
This was certainly a new phase of Clementina's character. Yet why should
she not assume the role of Lady Bountiful with the other functions of
her new condition. "I should have thought Miss Harcourt would have found
this rather difficult with her other social duties," he said, "and would
have left it to her married sister." He thought it better not to appear
as if avoiding reference to Euphemia, although quietly ignoring her late
experiences. Mr. Harcourt was less easy in his response.
"Now that Euphemia is again with her own family," he said ponderously,
with an affectation of social discrimination that was in weak contrast
to his usual direct business astuteness, "I suppose she may take her
part in these things, but just now she requires rest. You may have heard
some rumor that she is going abroad for a time? The fact is she hasn't
the least intention of doing so, nor do we consider there is the
slightest reason for her going.
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