Merillia's very unfamiliar guests, whose outlying demeanour and
architectural manners evidently filled him with the most poignant
dismay.
As to Mrs. Merillia and Lady Julia, the foregoing scene had so reduced
them that they were almost betrayed into some hysterical departure
from the rules of exquisite good breeding which they had unconsciously
observed from the cradle. Indeed, the latter, strong in the belief that
the terms outside broker and raving maniac were interchangeable, twice
dropped her spoon into her soup-plate before she could succeed in
lifting it to her mouth, and was unable to prevent herself from
whispering to the Prophet,--
"Pray, Mr. Vivian, tell me the worst--is he absolutely dangerous?"
"No, no," whispered back the Prophet, reassuringly. "It's all his play."
"Play!" murmured Lady Julia, glancing at Mr. Sagittarius, who was
holding back the right sleeve of Mr. Ferdinand's coat with his left hand
in order to have the free use of his dinner limb.
"Yes," whispered the Prophet. "He's the most harmless, innocent
creature. A child might stroke him. I mean he wouldn't hurt a child."
"Yes, but we are not children," said Lady Julia, still in great
apprehension.
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