10Everybody came out of the hall rather as if they were coming away from a funeral. The ceremony being over, you could recognize your friends and converse with them, but in an appropriately subdued manner. Mrs Mottram's manner could not, unfortunately, be called subdued even by the least candid friend. She was obviously excited, and the bright blue of her dress did nothing to disarm criticism. She rushed, positively rushed--the expression is Miss Doncaster's--up to Mr Everton and kept him talking on the steps of the hall, her light high-pitched voice making everything she said plainly audible.
Miss Doncaster's strictures were what might have been expected. She joined Miss Fell's party for the short homeward walk, and she had no hesitation in stating that she considered Mrs Mottram's behav
