There's something dreadfully sleepy
and languorous about it, though; stagnation seems to be the dominant
note. Nothing ever happens here; seedtime and harvest, an occasional
outbreak of measles or a mildly destructive thunderstorm, and a little
election excitement about once in five years, that is all that we have to
modify the monotony of our existence. Rather dreadful, isn't it?"
"On the contrary," said Matilda, "I find it soothing and restful; but
then, you see, I've lived in countries where things do happen, ever so
many at a time, when you're not ready for them happening all at once."
"That, of course, makes a difference," said Annabel.
"I have never forgotten," said Matilda, "the occasion when the Bishop of
Bequar paid us an unexpected visit; he was on his way to lay the
foundation-stone of a mission-house or something of the sort."
"I thought that out there you were always prepared for emergency guests
turning up," said Annabel.
"I was quite prepared for half a dozen Bishops," said Matilda, "but it
was rather disconcerting to find out after a little conversation that
this particular one was a distant cousin of mine, belonging to a branch
of the family that had quarrelled bitterly and offensively with our
branch about a Crown Derby dessert service; they got it, and we ought to
have got it, in some legacy, or else we got it and they thought they
ought to have it, I forget which; anyhow, I know they behaved
disgracefully.
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