She hardly
knew what to say or how to say it, yet was painfully conscious that her
every word and every look were being sharply criticised, either in the
character of Edward Oakley's daughter or Dr. Grey's wife.
"At least he shall not be ashamed of me," was the thought that kept her
up through both weariness and resentment, and she found herself
involuntarily looking toward the door every time it opened. Would he
come in? At least his presence would bring her that sense of relief and
protection which she had never failed to feel from the first hour she
knew Dr. Arnold Grey.
He did come in, though not immediately, and passing her with a smile,
which doubtless furnished the text for a whole week's gossip in
Avonsbridge, went over to talk to a group of ladies belonging to Saint
Bede's.
And now for the first time Christian saw what her husband was "in
society."
Next to a bad man or a fool, of all things most detestable is "a man of
society;" a brilliant, showy person, who gathers round him a knot of
listeners, to whom his one object is to exhibit himself. But it is no
small advantage for a man, even a clever or learned man, to feel and
appear at home in any company; to be neither eccentric, nor proud nor
shy; to have a pleasant word or smile for every body both; to seem and
to be occupied with other people instead of with himself, and with what
other people are thinking about him; in short, a frank, kindly, natural
gentleman, so sure both of his position and himself that he takes no
trouble in the assertion of either, but simply devotes himself to making
all about him as comfortable and happy as he can.
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