Page:The Semi-detached House.djvu/118

 "That awful Baroness!" said Rose, "Charles says she is to arrive at Marble Hall to-morrow for good, did not you, Charles?"

"I said she was coming to stay—good I never anticipate, and in this case I anticipate considerable evil. She is too prosperous to enter into my feelings. Look! what she sent me to-day." And he brought from an envelope black bordered to the extent of half an inch, four tickets of the brightest blue, ornamented with Cupids performing most dangerous antics on diminutive rosebuds. "Tickets for a picnic, the Lord Mayor's barge, and a band, and probably dancing; in fact, everything most repugnant to my tastes and habits—the Baroness should have a little more tact," and he almost groaned as he detailed this pointed affront to his reputation for complete broken-heartedness.

"To be sure, my dear, it was rather thoughtless; but you see, she meant well, for the tickets are marked at a guinea each, It was a handsome idea; though why she should spend four guineas to make you do what you don't like, I cannot see."