'Dear me,
grandmamma, nobody wishes to bring her forward. She will only play
with the children, and see the fireworks, and no one will speak to
her.'
Albinia averted further discussion till grandmamma had left the
breakfast-table, when all four appealed with one voice to Mr. Kendal,
who saw no objection, whereupon Lucy ran off, while Albinia finished
her arrangements for the well-being of grandmamma, Sophy, and
Maurice, who were as difficult to manage as the fox, goose, and
cabbage. At every turn she encountered Gilbert, touching up his
toilette at each glass, and seriously consulting her and Sophy upon
the choice between lilac and lemon-coloured gloves, and upon the bows
of his fringed neck-tie.
'My dear Gilbert,' said Albinia, on the fifth anxious alternative,
'it is of no use. No living creature will be the wiser, and do what
you will, you will never look half so well as your father.'
Gilbert flung aside, muttering something about 'fit to be seen,' but
just then Lucy hurried in. 'Oh! mamma, she wont go--she is very much
obliged, but she can't go.'
'Can't! she must,' cried Albinia and Gilbert together.
'She says you are very kind, but that she cannot. I said everything
I could; I told her she should wear Sophy's muslin mantle, or my
second best polka.'
'No doubt you went and made a great favour of it,' said Gilbert.
'No, I assure you I did not; I persuaded her with all my might; I
said mamma wished it, and we all wished it; and I am sure she would
really have been very glad if she could have gone.
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