It was a dilemma. And it was made needlessly painful for the Mayoress by the blindness and folly of the Mayor; in some ways so very able, in others he was such a shortsighted man! Really, he ought to have seen what Gerty was up to. So like a man to be completely taken in by her. One of her own sex would have seen at a glance that Gertrude was a Deep one.
It was a most difficult moment for the Mayoress. Either she must be false to Doctor Tremlett and give up her heart or she would have to submit tamely to the rape of her grandeur and have it flaunted in her face by a Designing creature. Heaven knew that she had no taste herself for grandeur, but Gerty had a very decided taste for it and there was the rub!
"Have a piece of this excellent pickelet, Josiah!" That smile and that manner were very winning to some eyes no doubt, but those of Maria were not of the number. That coat and skirt, how well they hung upon her! Gerty had always had a slim figure. Some people thought her figure very genteel, but again Maria was not of the number. Some people also thought her voice was very ladylike--Josiah did for one. La-di-da the Mayoress called it. Simpering creature! Even if the pickelet was excellent it didn't need her to say so. What had she to do with the pickelet? And there was Josiah submitting to her like a lamb and talking to her about the Town Clerk and the City Council and wondering whether she would mind giving him a hand on the Fifth at the Floral Hall.
"I'll be delighted, Josiah--simply delighted. Anything to help. If I can be the slightest use to you--and to Maria."
That precious, "And to Maria," brought a curl to the lip of the lawful Mayoress. Designing hussy! So like a man not to see through her. Maria felt herself slowly turning green. The heart has been known to take people that way.
"Gert is staying to dinner, Mother. Hope Billing sent up that salmon."
Billing had sent up the salmon, the Mayor was meekly informed by the Mayoress.
"It is wonderful to me, Josiah"--affected mouncing minx!--"how you manage to get through your day. You seem to have time for everything. Why, your work as mayor alone would keep most people fully occupied. Yet you always seem able to attend personally to this and that and the other."