He was grieved to discover presently that Jane partook of her mother’s sentiments upon this occasion, asserting that it was detestable of Uncle Vernon to be so disobliging, and so hardfisted as to begrudge the expenditure of a few hundred pounds.

“I am persuaded, Jane,” said Buxted gravely, “that you have too much propriety of taste to wish to be so much beholden to my uncle.”

“Oh, fiddle-faddle!” she exclaimed angrily. “Pray, why shouldn’t I be beholden to him? I’m sure it’s no more than his duty, after all!”

His upper lip seemed to lengthen, as it always did when he was displeased; he said in a repressive voice: “I make every allowance for your disappointment, but I venture to think that you will find a party here, in your own home, very much more enjoyable than a vast rout at Alverstoke House, where more than half the guests, I daresay, would be quite unknown to you.”

His second sister, Maria, who, with her own come-out in view, was quite as indignant as Jane, was unable to contain herself, but barely waited for him to come to the end of his measured speech before demanding why he talked such gammon. “More enjoyable to hold a nip-farthing ball here, with no more than fifty persons invited, than to make her first appearance at Alverstoke House? You must be all about in your head!” she told his lordship. “It will be the shabbiest affair, for you know what Mama is! But if my uncle were to give a ball, only think how magnificent it would be! Hundreds of guests, and all of the first consequence! Lobsters, and aspic jellies and — and Chantillies, and creams — ”

“Invited to the ball?” interpolated Carlton, with ponderous humour.

“And champagne!” struck in Jane, paying no heed to him. “And I should have stood at the head of the great staircase, with Mama, and my uncle, in a white satin gown, trimmed with rosebuds, and pink gauze, and a wreath!”