ing a terrible misunderstanding. "A fanciful name.… Why!… No! Not that little housemaid at the Vicarage?…"
The Polonaise terminated with a flourish. The Angel was quite surprised at the change in Mrs. Jehoram's expression.
"I never did!" said Mrs. Jehoram recovering. "To make me your confidante in an intrigue with a servant. Really, Mr. Angel, it's possible to be too original.…"
Then suddenly their colloquy was interrupted.
§ 36
This section is (so far as my memory goes) the shortest in the book.
But the enormity of the offence necessitates the separation of this section from all other sections.
The Vicar, you must understand, had done his best to inculcate the recognised differentiæ of a gentleman. "Never allow a lady to carry anything," said the Vicar. "Say, 'permit me' and relieve her." "Always stand until every lady is seated." "Always rise and open a door for a lady…" and so forth. (All men who have elder sisters know that code.)
And the Angel (who had failed to relieve Lady Hammergallow of her teacup) danced forward with astonishing dexterity (leaving Mrs. Jehoram in the window-seat) and with an elegant "permit me" rescued the tea-tray from Lady Hammergallow's pretty parlour-maid and vanished officiously in front
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