"She wasn't much of a skeleton as I remember her,"murmured Euphemia,"extremely well-covered.""My dear!"said Aunt Juley,"what a peculiar way of putting it--not very nice.""No,but what was she like?"persisted Imogen.
"I'll tell you,my child,"said Francie;"a kind of modern Venus,very well-dressed."Euphemia said sharply:"Venus was never dressed,and she had blue eyes of melting sapphire."At this juncture Nicholas took his leave.
"Mrs.Nick is awfully strict,"said Francie with a laugh.
"She has six children,"said Aunt Juley;"it's very proper she should be careful.""Was Uncle Soames awfully fond of her?"pursued the inexorable Imogen,moving her dark luscious eyes from face to face.
Aunt Hester made a gesture of despair,just as Aunt Juley answered:
"Yes,your Uncle Soames was very much attached to her.""I suppose she ran off with someone?"
"No,certainly not;that is--not precisely.'
"What did she do,then,Auntie?"
"Come along,Imogen,"said Winifred,"we must be getting back."But Aunt Juley interjected resolutely:"She--she didn't behave at all well.""Oh,bother!"cried Imogen;"that's as far as I ever get.""Well,my dear,"said Francie,"she had a love affair which ended with the young man's death;and then she left your uncle.I always rather liked her.""She used to give me chocolates,"murmured Imogen,"and smell nice.""Of course!"remarked Euphemia.
"Not of course at all!"replied Francie,who used a particularly expensive essence of gillyflower herself.
"I can't think what we are about,"said Aunt Juley,raising her hands,"talking of such things!""Was she divorced?"asked Imogen from the door.
"Certainly not,"cried Aunt Juley;"that is--certainly not."A sound was heard over by the far door.Timothy had re-entered the back drawing-room."I've come for my map,"he said."Who's been divorced?""No one,Uncle,"replied Francie with perfect truth.