Overcome by the mordant satire in his tone , Mrs. George glanced speechlessly at Lucinda . Behold , Lucinda had squarely turned her back on the party and was gazing out into the garden , with a very decided flush on the snowy curves of her neck and cheek . Then Mrs. George looked at her sisters-in-law . They were regarding her with the tolerant amusement they might bestow on a blundering child . Mrs. George experienced that subtle prescience whereby it is given us to know that we have put our foot in it . She felt herself turning an uncomfortable brick-red . What Penhallow skeleton had she unwittingly jangled ? Why , oh , why , was it such an evident breach of the proprieties to praise Lucinda ? Mrs. George was devoutly thankful that a summons to the tea-table rescued her from her mire of embarrassment . The meal was spoiled for her , however ; the mortifying recollection of her mysterious blunder conspired with her curiosity to banish appetite . As soon as possible after tea she decoyed Mrs. Frederick out into the garden and in the dahlia walk solemnly demanded the reason of it all . Mrs. Frederick indulged in a laugh which put the mettle of her festal brown silk seams to the test . `` My dear Cecilia , it was SO amusing , '' she said , a little patronizingly . `` But WHY ! '' cried Mrs. George , resenting the patronage and the mystery . `` What was so dreadful in what I said ? Or so funny ? And WHO is this Romney Penhallow who must n't be spoken to ? '' `` Oh , Romney is one of the Charlottetown Penhallows , '' explained Mrs. Frederick . `` He is a lawyer there .
He is a first cousin of Lucinda 's and a second XXXXX George 's -- or is he ?
as at by for in of that to whereby with