'Unfortunately we had an accident with it a little while ago.
It got burnt.'
'But the last one I gave you got burnt.'
'I'm afraid you'll think us very careless.'
'It doesn't really matter,' smiled Mrs Fowler. 'I shall enjoy making you another.
I'll go to Liberty's tomorrow and buy some silks.'
Mrs Tower kept her face bravely.
'I don't deserve it, you know.
Doesn't your vicar's wife need one?'
'Oh, I've just made her one,' said Mrs Fowler brightly.
I noticed that when she smiled she showed white, small and regular teeth.
They were a real beauty.
Her smile was certainly very sweet.
But I felt it high time for me to leave the two ladies to themselves, so I took my leave.
Early next morning Mrs Tower rang me up and I heard at once from her voice that she was in high spirits.
'I've got the most wonderful news for you,' she said.
'Jane is going to be married.'
'Nonsense.'
'Her fiance is coming to dine here tonight to be introduced to me and I want you to come too.'
'Oh, but I shall be in the way.'
'No, you won't.
Jane suggested herself that I should ask you.
Do come.'
She was bubbling over with laughter.
'Who is he?'
'I don't know.
She tells me he's an architect.
Can you imagine the sort of man Jane would marry?'
I had nothing to do and I could trust Mrs Tower to give me a good dinner.
When I arrived Mrs Tower, very splendid in a tea-gown a little too young for her, was alone.
'Jane is putting the finishing touches to her appearance.
I'm longing for you to see her.
She's all in a flutter.
She says he adores her.
His name is Gilbert and when she speaks of him her voice gets all funny and tremulous.
It makes me want to laugh.'
'I wonder what he's like.'
'Oh, I'm sure I know.
Very big and massive, with a bald head and an immense gold chain across an immense tummy.
A large, fat, clean-shaven, red face and a booming voice.'
Mrs Fowler came in.
She wore a very stiff black silk dress with a wide skirt and a train.
At the neck it was cut into a timid V and the sleeves came down to the elbows.
She wore a necklace of diamonds set in silver.
She carried in her hands a long pair of black gloves and a fan of black ostrich feathers.
She managed (as so few people do) to look exactly what she was.
You could never have thought her anything in the world but the respectable relict of a North-country manufacturer of ample means.
'You've really got quite a pretty neck, Jane,' said Mrs Tower with a kindly smile.
It was indeed astonishingly young when you compared it with her weather-beaten face.
It was smooth and unlined and the skin was white.