"She's exhausted her criminal passion--that's
what it comes to," was Philippa's judgment. "Now she will have to be
cajoled." So Mrs. Percival was cowed into civility.
The pair conversed, rather painfully, for perhaps an hour. They had tea.
All the effort to talk was made by Sanchia, who broached the children--
Philippa's three, Vicky's one--and got nothing but perfunctory enthusiasm
in reply. Mrs. Percival was far too sincerely interested in herself to
care for children. The sons-in-law proved a better subject. Here she could
point a moral inwards. She extolled them highly--never was woman so
blessed in her daughters' husbands. Mr. Tompsett-King--"Tertius, the soul
of honour: the most delicate-minded man I have ever known. And sensitive
to a fault! I assure you--" Captain Sinclair was "our gallant Cuthbert,"
or "my soldier son." "Sweet little Vicky's knight! chivalry lives again in
him. It has been the greatest blessing in my days of trouble to be sure of
the ideal happiness of those two young lives. Ah! one does have one's
consolations."
Such eulogium seemed to leave little to be said for Melusine and her
prize; and yet it was certain that Mrs. Percival favoured Gerald Scales
above the others.
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