Notwithstandingthatitswallswereblotched，asifmissionarymapswereburstingoutofthemtoimpartgeographicalknowledge；
notwithstandingthatitsweirdfurniturewasforlornlyfadedandmusty，andthattheprevailingVenetianodourofbilgewaterandanebbtideonaweedyshorewasverystrong；theplacewasbetterwithin，thanitpromised。Thedoorwasopenedbyasmilingmanlikeareformedassassin——atemporaryservant——whousheredthemintotheroomwhereMrsGowansat，withtheannouncementthattwobeautifulEnglishladieswerecometoseethemistress。
MrsGowan，whowasengagedinneedlework，putherworkasideinacoveredbasket，androse，alittlehurriedly。MissFannywasexcessivelycourteoustoher，andsaidtheusualnothingswiththeskillofaveteran。
’Papawasextremelysorry，’proceededFanny，’tobeengagedto-dayheissomuchengagedhere，ouracquaintancebeingsowretchedlylarge!；andparticularlyrequestedmetobringhiscardforMrGowan。ThatImaybesuretoacquitmyselfofacommissionwhichheimpresseduponmeatleastadozentimes，allowmetorelievemyconsciencebyplacingitonthetableatonce。’
Whichshedidwithveteranease。