The Discomfiture of Mrs. Trimmings 325 



The gross insolence of the thing, too ! I only ^Yish we 

 could find out who it was ! I should like to let her know 

 what I think of her.' 



Lady Hilda quite casually glanced at Mrs. Trimmings, 

 and something in the red face she saw before her arrested 

 her attention ; but Lady Covertside did not observe, and 

 rejoined — 



' I'm really disposed to share your indignation, Hilda. 

 It was, I think, the most unwarrantable liberty I ever 

 heard of, for Lucy cannot possibly have strayed into 

 private ground. I can't see the woman's object in being 

 so offensive.' 



What was the wretched Mrs. Trimmings to say ? 

 This was putting the matter in an entirely new light, 

 and looked at from this point of view, the conduct 

 described did seem barbarous. The feelings of the 

 young mother and her delicate child had not entered 

 mto Mrs. Trimmings 's thoughts ; she had only considered 

 the invasion of ' her ' green, and the situation generally 

 was so overpowering that she — she, the friend of dear 

 Lady Lobbington — was too overcome to resent the idea 

 of having been mistaken for a vulgar lodging-house 

 keeper ! 



A.t that moment the door opened, and Mrs. Trimmings 

 turned a despairing gaze towards it. It was as she had 

 feared — her surmise had been but too accurate ! The 

 young lady who entered with her husband was too surely 

 the lady of the hill. Impulsive Ethel jumped up and 

 kissed her friend. 



' I'm very angry with you, Lucy, and I'm going to 

 quarrel with you ; but I'm so glad to see you that I'll 

 keep the quarrel till to-morrow ! ' she cried. 



' Come and sit by the fire, dear ; it grows chilly in 



