Wives and Daughters: An Every-Day Story - Page 235/572

"Upon my word, I really do think this is a better room than our

Ashcombe Court-house!"

"And how prettily it is decorated!" piped out Miss Piper. "How well

the roses are made! But you all have such taste at Hollingford."

"There's Mrs. Dempster," cried Miss Hornblower; "she said she and her

two daughters were asked to stay at Mr. Sheepshanks'. Mr. Preston

was to be there, too; but I suppose they could not all come at once.

Look! and there is young Roscoe, our new doctor. I declare it seems

as if all Ashcombe were here. Mr. Roscoe! Mr. Roscoe! come here and

let me introduce you to Miss Browning, the friend we are staying

with. We think very highly of our young doctor, I can assure you,

Miss Browning."

Mr. Roscoe bowed, and simpered at hearing his own praises. But Miss

Browning had no notion of having any doctor praised, who had come to

settle on the very verge of Mr. Gibson's practice, so she said to

Miss Hornblower,--

"You must be glad, I am sure, to have somebody you can call in, if

you are in any sudden hurry, or for things that are too trifling

to trouble Mr. Gibson about; and I should think Mr. Roscoe would

feel it a great advantage to profit, as he will naturally have the

opportunity of doing, by witnessing Mr. Gibson's skill!"

Probably Mr. Roscoe would have felt more aggrieved by this speech

than he really was, if his attention had not been called off just

then by the entrance of the very Mr. Gibson who was being spoken of.

Almost before Miss Browning had ended her severe and depreciatory

remarks, he had asked his friend Miss Hornblower,--

"Who is that lovely girl in pink, just come in?"

"Why, that's Cynthia Kirkpatrick!" said Miss Hornblower, taking up a

ponderous gold eyeglass to make sure of her fact. "How she has grown!

To be sure, it is two or three years since she left Ashcombe--she was

very pretty then--people did say Mr. Preston admired her very much;

but she was so young!"

"Can you introduce me?" asked the impatient young surgeon. "I should

like to ask her to dance."

When Miss Hornblower returned from her greeting to her former

acquaintance, Mrs. Gibson, and had accomplished the introduction

which Mr. Roscoe had requested, she began her little confidences to

Miss Browning.

"Well, to be sure! How condescending we are! I remember the time when

Mrs. Kirkpatrick wore old black silks, and was thankful and civil

as became her place as a schoolmistress, and as having to earn her

bread. And now she is in a satin; and she speaks to me as if she

just could recollect who I was, if she tried very hard! It isn't so

long ago since Mrs. Dempster came to consult me as to whether Mrs.

Kirkpatrick would be offended, if she sent her a new breadth for

her lilac silk-gown, in place of one that had been spoilt by Mrs.

Dempster's servant spilling the coffee over it the night before; and

she took it and was thankful, for all she's dressed in pearl-grey

satin now! And she would have been glad enough to marry Mr. Preston

in those days."