Page:The Semi-detached House.djvu/136

 would become of us," she said, in a sort of caressing manner to Mrs. Hopkinson, "without that meaning word æsthetic? Does not it express all and everything?"

"It may, my dear," said Mrs. Hopkinson, who could not help laughing at Rachel's drawling manner; "but I never heard it before, and do not know what it means now. If you had said asthmatic, I should have understood you at once; and now I must wish you all good morning, my girls will be expecting me."

The Baroness coldly said good-bye: the young lady seemed dreamingly disposed, and Willis, who was half ashamed of his friends, condescended to escort his mother-in-law, and withdrew rather statelily.

"Now there!" said the Baroness, "I do believe that woman is affronted. She really gives herself airs, not that I care, provided she does not influence the precious Willis—the morose son-in-law."

"A little more than kin and less than kind," interposed Rachel.