"You can't be married by that old fool," thundered her father--Mr.
Hodskiss always thundered; he thundered even his prayers.
"He christened me," urged Miss Clementina.
"And Lord knows what he called you. Nobody can understand a word
he says."
"I'd like him to marry me," reiterated Miss Clementina.
Neither her ladyship nor the contractor liked the idea. The latter
in particular had looked forward to a big function, chronicled at
length in all the newspapers. But after all, the marriage was the
essential thing, and perhaps, having regard to some foolish love
passages that had happened between Clementina and a certain
penniless naval lieutenant, ostentation might be out of place.
So in due course Clementina departed for Aunt Jane's, accompanied
only by her maid.
Quite a treasure was Miss Hodskiss's new maid.
"A clean, wholesome girl," said of her Contractor Hodskiss, who
cultivated affability towards the lower orders; "knows her place,
and talks sense. You keep that girl, Clemmy."
"Do you think she knows enough?" hazarded the maternal Hodskiss.
"Quite sufficient for any decent woman," retorted the contractor.
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