Mounser Green had declared with energy that Lord Rufford had
behaved very badly. There are men who feel it to be their mission
to come in for the relief of ladies who have been badly treated. If
Mounser Green wished to be one of them on her behalf, and to take
her out with him to his very far-away employment, might not this be
the best possible solution of her present difficulties?
On the evening of the third day after her return she was able to
come down-stairs and the line of thought which has been suggested
for her induced her to undertake some trouble with the white and
pink robe, or dressing-gown in which she had appeared. "Well, my
dear, you are smart," the old lady said.
"'Odious in woollen;--'twould a saint provoke,
Were the last words which poor Narcissa spoke.'"
said Arabella, who had long since provided herself with this
quotation for such occasions. "I hope I am not exactly dying, Mrs.
Green; but I don't see why I should not object to be 'frightful,'--
as well as the young lady who was."
"I suppose it's all done for Mounser's benefit?"
"Partly for you, partly for Mounser, and a good deal for myself.
What a very odd name. Why did they call him Mounser? I used to
think it was because he was in the Foreign Office,--a kind of
chaff, as being half a Frenchman."
"My mother's maiden name was Mounser, and it isn't French at all.
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