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of its proving pleasant。
She was more anxious about Gertrude than about Jane； concerning
whom； at a brief interview in London； she had already discovered
that Lady Brandon's manner； mind； and speech were just what Miss
Carpenter's had been。 But； even from Agatha； Jane commanded more
respect than before； having changed from an overgrown girl into a
fine woman； and made a brilliant match in her first season；
whilst many of her pretty； proud； and clever contemporaries； whom
she had envied at school； were still unmarried； and were having
their homes made uncomfortable by parents anxious to get rid of
the burthen of supporting them； and to profit in purse or
position by their marriages。
This was Gertrude's case。 Like Agatha； she had thrown away her
matrimonial opportunities。 Proud of her rank and exclusiveness；
she had resolved to have as little as possible to do with persons
who did not share both with her。 She began by repulsing the
proffered acquaintance of many families of great wealth and
fashion； who either did not know their grandparents or were
ashamed of them。 Having shut herself out of their circle； she was
presented at court； and thenceforth accepted the invitations of
those only who had； in her opinion； a right to the same honor。
And she was far stricter on that point than the Lord Chamberlain；
who had； she held； betrayed his trust by practically turning
Leveller。 She was well educated； refined in her manners and
habits； skilled in etiquette to an extent irritating to the
ignorant； and gifted with a delicate complexion； pearly teeth；
and a face that would have been Grecian but for a slight upward
tilt of the nose and traces of a square； heavy type in the jaw。
Her father was a retired admiral； with sufficient influence to
have had a sinecure made by a Conservative government expressly
for the maintenance of his son pending alliance with some
heiress。 Yet Gertrude remained single； and the admiral； who had
formerly spent more money than he could comfortably afford on her
education； and was still doing so upon her state and personal
adornment； was complaining so unpleasantly of her failure to get
taken off his hands； that she could hardly bear to live at home；
and was ready to marry any thoroughbred gentleman； however
unsuitable his age or character； who would relieve her from her
humiliating dependence。 She was prepared to sacrifice her natural
desire for youth； beauty； and virtue in a husband if she could
escape from her parents on no easier terms； but she was resolved
to die an old maid sooner than marry an upstart。
The difficulty in her way was pecuniary。 The admiral was poor。 He
had not quite six thousand a year； and though he practiced the
utmost economy in order to keep up the most expensive habits； he
could not afford to give his daughter a dowry。 Now the well born
bachelors of her set； having more blue bood； but much less
wealth； than they needed； admired her； paid her compliments；
danced with her； but could not afford to marry her。 Some of them
even told her so； married rich daughters of tea merchants； iron
founders； or successful stocktrokers； and then tried to make
matches between her and their lowly born brothers…in…law。
So； when Gertrude met Lady Brandon； her lot was secretly
wretched； and she was glad to accept an invitation to Brandon
Beeches in order to escape for a while from the admiral's daily
sarcasms on the marriage list in the 〃Times。〃 The invitation was
the more acceptable because Sir Charles was no mushroom noble；
and； in the schooldays which Gertrude now remembered as the
happiest of her life； she had acknowledged that Jane's family and
connections were more aristocratic than those of any other
student then at Alton； herself excepted。 To Agatha； whose
grandfather had amassed wealth as a proprietor of gasworks
（novelties in his time）； she had never offered her intimacy。
Agatha had taken it by force； partly moral； partly physical。 But
the gasworks were never forgotten； and when Lady Brandon
mentioned； as a piece of delightful news； that she had found out
their old school companion； and had asked her to join them；
Gertrude was not quite pleased。 Yet； when they met； her eyes were
the only wet ones there； for she was the least happy of the
three； and； though she did not know it； her spirit was somewhat
broken。 Agatha； she thought； had lost the bloom of girlhood； but
was bolder； stronger； and cleverer than before。 Agatha had； in
fact； summoned all her self…possession to hide her shyness。 She
detected the emotion of Gertrude； who at the last moment did not
try to conceal it。 It would have been poured out freely in words；
had Gertrude's social training taught her to express her feelings
as well as it had accustomed her to dissemble them。
〃Do you remember Miss Wilson？〃 said Jane； as the three drove from
the railway station to Brandon Beeches。 〃Do you remember Mrs。
Miller and her cat？ Do you remember the Recording Angel？ Do you
remember how I fell into the canal？〃
These reminiscences lasted until they reached the house and went
together to Agatha's room。 Here Jane； having some orders to give
in the household； had to leave themreluctantly； for she was
jealous lest Gertrude should get the start of her in the renewal
of Agatha's affection。 She even tried to take her rival away with
her； but in vain。 Gertrude would not budge。
〃What a beautiful house and splendid place！〃 said Agatha when
Jane was gone。 〃And what a nice fellow Sir Charles is！ We used to
laugh at Jane； but she can afford to laugh at the luckiest of us
now。 I always said she would blunder into the best of everything。
Is it true that she married in her first season？〃
〃Yes。 And Sir Charles is a man of great culture。 I cannot
understand it。 Her size is really beyond everything； and her
manners are bad。〃
〃Hm！〃 said Agatha with a wise air。 〃There was always something
about Jane that attracted men。 And she is more knave than fool。
But she is certainly a great ass。〃
Gertrude looked serious； to imply that she had grown out of the
habit of using or listening to such language。 Agatha； stimulated
by this； continued：
〃Here are you and I； who consider ourselves twice as presentable
and conversable as she； two old maids。〃 Gertrude winced； and
Agatha hastened to add： 〃Why； as for you； you are perfectly
lovely！ And she has asked us down expressly to marry us。〃
〃She would not presume〃
〃Nonsense； my dear Gertrude。 She thinks that we are a couple of
fools who have mismanaged our own business； and that she； having
managed so well for herself； can settle us in a jiffy。 Come； did
she not say to you； before I came； that it was time for me to be
getting married？〃
〃Well； she did。 But〃
〃She said exactly the same thing to me about yon when she invited
me。〃
〃I would leave her house this moment；〃 said Gertrude； 〃if I
thought she dared meddle in my affairs。 What is it to her whether
I am married or not？〃
〃Where have you been living all these years； if you do not know
that the very first thing a woman wants to do when she has made a
good match is to make ones for all her spinster friends。 Jane
does not mean any harm。 She does it out