human
Have you any idea when George will be in, Rhoda? I am quite willing to wait a reasonable time for him, but I cannot be expected to wait indefinitely. I must consider Lady Samuelson. It is a long distance to Ladbroke Square--of course Trimmer's Green is very far out--and I have to dress for dinner. Everything is very well done at Lady Samuelson's, and she makes a great point of punctuality. Of course it is no difficulty to me to be punctual. I was brought up to be so. Mamma was always extremely particular about our being in time. She said it was very rude to be late. I think it is rude, and so, of course, punctuality is quite natural to me. But I do object to being hurried; and so, unless George is likely to be in almost directly, I really must go, Rhoda.
gpt
I should be very mortified to have you leave before he comes back. It would be a sore disappointment to Georgie to find you had been here and he had missed you,
human
And it's something quite new for Mr. Lovegrove to be out on your at-home day, isn't it? Eliza put in, not without covert sarcasm.
gpt
I never remember to have known it happen before.
human
Mrs. and Miss Ballard, please, mum
gpt
I am afraid Miss Hart grows very spiteful, she said to herself.
human
I wish she would go. I should be vexed to have her outsit Serena.--Well, Mrs. Ballard, very pleased, I am sure, to see you --this aloud--
gpt
Of course I should be glad to see George, but I could not bind myself to anything, Rhoda. You see, Lady Samuelson --the Ballard ladies, mother and daughter, looked at one another, fluttered and impressed--
human
Lady Samuelson, Serena repeated, her voice rising a little,
gpt
You are very kind, Serena,
human
I think Rhoda has improved, Serena said to herself, as she walked across Trimmer's Green between the black iron railings.
gpt
I think she has more sense of my position than she did. I wonder whether she thinks that if Mr. Iglesias had proposed I should have accepted him. Of course she thinks I was very badly treated. I think her manner shows that. Certainly she took his part rather against that odious Miss Hart. But I don't believe she really sided with him. I think she only appeared to do so to snub Miss Hart. Of course if she had stayed, I should have had to stay, too. I should have owed it to myself to do so. But, as she went, there was no object in staying; and it was wiser to seem quite indifferent about seeing George. I hope he won't attempt to call upon me at Lady Samuelson's! I should hardly think he would presume to do that. I must tell the butler, if a gentleman calls, to say I am not at home. If it was only George it would not so much matter, but I could not run the chance of having Lady Samuelson and Rhoda meet. It would not do at all to have Rhoda climbing into society through me. I think it is too bad to have people make use of you like that. And Rhoda has no tact. I see I must be on my guard with George and Rhoda. I wonder whether I had better tell Susan Mr. Iglesias has become a Roman Catholic? Of course she would think I had had a great escape; but in any case that does not excuse him. He behaved very badly. I don't believe for an instant he ever took any notice of Mrs. Porcher. I believe that is an entire invention. I wonder if the lady who called is the same lady we saw at the theatre--