Page:Arthur Machen - The Hill of Dreams.djvu/104

THE HILL OF DREAMS fault, as everybody says, but he looked so ridiculous as he was going down the steps that I couldn't help laughing.' Mr. Vaughan had heard the ringing, youthful laughter as he crossed the lawn.

Young girls like Henrietta Dixon and Edith Gervase naturally viewed the Vaughans' comical position with all the high spirits of their age, but the elder ladies could not look at matters in this frivolous light.

'Hush, dear, hush,' said Mrs. Gervase, 'it's all too shocking to be a laughing matter. Don't you agree with me, Mrs. Dixon? The sinful extravagance that went on at Pentre always frightened me. You remember that ball they gave last year? Mr. Gervase assured me that the champagne must have cost at least a hundred and fifty shillings the dozen.'

'It's dreadful, isn't it,' said Mrs. Dixon, 'when one thinks of how many poor people there are who would be thankful for a crust of bread?'

'Yes, Mrs. Dixon,' Agatha joined in, 'and you know how absurdly the Vaughans spoilt the cottagers. Oh, it was really wicked; one would think Mr. Vaughan wished to make them above their station. Edith and I went for a walk one day 94