off to school at all," said Elizabeth.
This radical opinion earned a disdainful look from Lady Catherine.
"That is what comes from having been raised without even as much as a governess between five girls. You will learn soon enough what it means for a boy to be an heir to a fortune, and how necessary it is for him to mingle with other males in his social class in order to take his proper place in society." She gave a scornful laugh.
"Or did you think to teach him this yourself?"
A militant look entered Elizabeth's eye. Georgiana groaned inwardly. There was going to be trouble.
"I am inclined to agree with Mrs Darcy," said Mrs Gatley serenely. "I think it is cruel to send boys away when they are so young and to have them grow up without a mother's influence."
"A mother's weakness must never be allowed to affect the child's future," said Lady Catherine repressively. "A mother must be strong, in order for the child to be strong. There are mothers, however, who put their own feelings above their child's interest, and that can only lead to ruin."
Mrs Channing, who had become decidedly uncomfortable when her sister had spoken, now nodded in agreement.
"Yes, a mother cannot be selfish. I would have liked to have kept my dear Percy at home, for he was my only child, you know, and with his father away--it quite broke my heart. But I overcame 68
THE DARCY COUSINS
my feelings and sent him away, and look how well he has turned out! Even if he spends most of his time in London and I see very little of him."
Caroline seized the opportunity to turn the conversation.
"Does Mr Channing take lodgings year round in Town, or do you have your own townhouse there?"
"We have a townhouse, but with my husband in India--he is with the Company, you know--and no daughters to bring out, I am little inclined to go there," said Mrs Channing. She had one of those voices that gave the impression of some great grievance, even when she was talking of an ordinary matter. "We open it up whenever Mr Channing comes to England, of course. Percy prefers his own lodgings."
With the conversation safely settled on more mundane matters, Caroline made an observation about the unsettled weather they were having.
"Yes--the weather has turned quite cool again," complained Mrs Channing. "I had hoped it would be warmer."
Georgiana, who had wanted to speak for some time, but could not contribute to a conversation about children, was glad of the change of subject, and pointed out that at least it had been generally dry and that they had had several warm days as well.
"But that is precisely what I object to," replied Mrs Channing.
"If the weather had stayed cold, then we would have resigned ourselves to it, but when it is so inconsistent, promising sunshine and blossoms one day, and flurries of snow the other, then how are we to react? Why only the other day I went out wrapped in a cloak with fur trimming, and with an ermine muff besides, and what do you think happened? The sun came out, and the weather turned warm, and I grew so hot in my cloak I was forced to throw it off."
69
MONICA FAIRVIEW
At this moment, Lady Catherine called Georgiana and asked her to hand out tea cups to the ladies. She had fallen into the habit of ignoring Clarissa when it came to this task, as though not liking tea could hinder a person's ability to pass round the teacups.
Georgiana did not like carrying the cups across the room. She worried that she would trip, or that the tea would spill, or that she would splatter the tea onto someone's lap.
"You are too slow, Georgiana," said Lady Catherine impatiently.
"You must learn to give the cups out faster. There is nothing worse than lukewarm tea."
Georgiana reddened at this public rebuke, particularly since it was undeserved. There were only a few ladies to be served, and even if she was slow, the tea could hardly have turned cold so quickly.
Mrs Channing took a sip from her cup. "You are quite right, Lady Catherine," she said,
This radical opinion earned a disdainful look from Lady Catherine.
"That is what comes from having been raised without even as much as a governess between five girls. You will learn soon enough what it means for a boy to be an heir to a fortune, and how necessary it is for him to mingle with other males in his social class in order to take his proper place in society." She gave a scornful laugh.
"Or did you think to teach him this yourself?"
A militant look entered Elizabeth's eye. Georgiana groaned inwardly. There was going to be trouble.
"I am inclined to agree with Mrs Darcy," said Mrs Gatley serenely. "I think it is cruel to send boys away when they are so young and to have them grow up without a mother's influence."
"A mother's weakness must never be allowed to affect the child's future," said Lady Catherine repressively. "A mother must be strong, in order for the child to be strong. There are mothers, however, who put their own feelings above their child's interest, and that can only lead to ruin."
Mrs Channing, who had become decidedly uncomfortable when her sister had spoken, now nodded in agreement.
"Yes, a mother cannot be selfish. I would have liked to have kept my dear Percy at home, for he was my only child, you know, and with his father away--it quite broke my heart. But I overcame 68
THE DARCY COUSINS
my feelings and sent him away, and look how well he has turned out! Even if he spends most of his time in London and I see very little of him."
Caroline seized the opportunity to turn the conversation.
"Does Mr Channing take lodgings year round in Town, or do you have your own townhouse there?"
"We have a townhouse, but with my husband in India--he is with the Company, you know--and no daughters to bring out, I am little inclined to go there," said Mrs Channing. She had one of those voices that gave the impression of some great grievance, even when she was talking of an ordinary matter. "We open it up whenever Mr Channing comes to England, of course. Percy prefers his own lodgings."
With the conversation safely settled on more mundane matters, Caroline made an observation about the unsettled weather they were having.
"Yes--the weather has turned quite cool again," complained Mrs Channing. "I had hoped it would be warmer."
Georgiana, who had wanted to speak for some time, but could not contribute to a conversation about children, was glad of the change of subject, and pointed out that at least it had been generally dry and that they had had several warm days as well.
"But that is precisely what I object to," replied Mrs Channing.
"If the weather had stayed cold, then we would have resigned ourselves to it, but when it is so inconsistent, promising sunshine and blossoms one day, and flurries of snow the other, then how are we to react? Why only the other day I went out wrapped in a cloak with fur trimming, and with an ermine muff besides, and what do you think happened? The sun came out, and the weather turned warm, and I grew so hot in my cloak I was forced to throw it off."
69
MONICA FAIRVIEW
At this moment, Lady Catherine called Georgiana and asked her to hand out tea cups to the ladies. She had fallen into the habit of ignoring Clarissa when it came to this task, as though not liking tea could hinder a person's ability to pass round the teacups.
Georgiana did not like carrying the cups across the room. She worried that she would trip, or that the tea would spill, or that she would splatter the tea onto someone's lap.
"You are too slow, Georgiana," said Lady Catherine impatiently.
"You must learn to give the cups out faster. There is nothing worse than lukewarm tea."
Georgiana reddened at this public rebuke, particularly since it was undeserved. There were only a few ladies to be served, and even if she was slow, the tea could hardly have turned cold so quickly.
Mrs Channing took a sip from her cup. "You are quite right, Lady Catherine," she said,
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