The Milburns told him; it was
Dora who actually made the communication. The occasion
was high tea; Miss Milburn's apprehension about Englishmen
and late dinner had been dissipated in great amusement.
Mr Hesketh liked nothing better than high tea, liked
nothing so much. He came often to the Milburns' after
Mrs Milburn said she hoped he would, and pleased her
extremely by the alacrity with which he accepted her
first invitation to stay to what she described as their
very simple and unconventional meal. Later he won her
approval entirely by saying boldly that he hoped he was
going to be allowed to stay. It was only in good English
society, Mrs Milburn declared, that you found such freedom
and confidence; it reminded her of Mrs Emmett's saying
that her sister-in-law in London was always at home to
lunch. Mrs Milburn considered a vague project of informing
a select number of her acquaintances that she was always
at home to high tea, but on reflection dismissed it, in
case an inconvenient number should come at once. She
would never have gone into detail, but since a tin of
sardines will only hold so many, I may say for her that
it was the part of wisdom.
Mr Hesketh, however, wore the safe and attractive aspect
of a single exceptional instance; there were always
sardines enough for him.
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