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"Like the Bowmans," Annabelle said

"Yes It see infiltrated with increasing nuh to catch a peer We certainly don’t need an excess of competition I will be pleased when all this entrepreneurial fervor has finally settled, and things go back to the way they were"

Annabelle smiled ruefully as she wondered how to explain to her mother that from all she had seen and heard, the process of industrial expansion was only just beginning…and that things would never go back to the way they were Annabelle had just begun to gain a s of the transformation that the railroads and propeller-driven ships and land and the rest of the world Those were the subjects that Simon and his acquaintances had discussed at dinner instead of upper-class pursuits like hunting and country parties

"Tellon ith Mr Hunt?" Philippa asked "It would certainly seeh I will say that Mr Hunt is not like any entlemen that we’re accustoressive…"

"Oh, dear heavens," Philippa said in vague distaste "Do you mean politically?"

"No…" Annabelle paused and made a comical face as she reflected that she didn’t even knohat party her husband subscribed to "Actually, having heard so, or even a liberal--"

"Dear o in the other direction"

That h "I doubt that But it doesn’t reallyto believe that someday the opinions of these entrepreneurs and e Their financial influence alone--"

"Annabelle," Philippa interrupted gently, "I think it is a wonderful thing that you wish to be supportive of your husband But a man in trade will never be as influential as a peer Not in England, certainly"

Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by Jere entrance into the parlor He looked disheveled and wild-eyed

"Jere to her feet "What happened? Where is Mr Hunt?"

"Walking the horses around the square to cool them" He shook his head and spoke breathlessly "The man is a lunatic We nearly overturned at least three ti a half dozen people, and I was jolted until the entire lower half of my body is black-and-blue If I’d had the breath to spare, I would have started praying, as ere clearly going to die Hunt has the meanest horses I’ve ever set eyes on, and he let out curses so foul that just one of theood--"

"Jerehast that Simon would have treated her brother so terribly "I’m so--"

"It ithout doubt the best afternoon of ed Hunt to take ain tomorrow, and he said that he would if he had the tiet so lee, while his mother and sister stared after hi Simon took Annabelle, Jeremy, and their mother to the residence over the butcher shop, where his parents still lived Consisting of threeto a third-floor loft, the place was small but well-appointed Even so, Annabelle could read the perplexed disapproval on her mother’s face, for Philippa could not understand why the Hunts did not choose to live in a handsome town house or terrace The more Annabelle had tried to explain that the Hunts felt no sha class, thewith annoyance that herdeliberately obtuse, Annabelle had abandoned all attempts to discuss Simon’s family and had privately enjoined Jere disdainful in front of them

"I’ll try," Jeremy had said doubtfully "But you know that Mama has never rubbed on ith people who are different frohed in exasperation "Heaven forbid that we should spend an evening with people who are not exactly the saht even enjoy it…oh, the shame!"

A curious smile touched her brother’s lips "Don’t be too severe on her, Annabelle It wasn’t so long ago that you had the sas"

"I did not! I…" Annabelle had paused with a ferocious scowl, then sighed "You’re right, I did Though now I can’t see why There’s no dishonor in work, is there? Certainly it’s more admirable than idleness"

Jereed," was his only comment, and Annabelle had replied ruefully

"Perhaps that’s not a bad thing"

Now, as they ascended the narrow stairs that led up from the butcher shop to the Hunts’ private rooms, Annabelle are of the subtle restraint in Sin of the uncertainty that heNo doubt he was concerned about how she and his family would "rub on," as Jere, Annabelle pasted a confident s even as she heard the commotion in the Hunt residence…a cacophony of adult voices, childrens’ squeals, and thu overturned

"Dear me," Philippa exclaimed "That sounds like…like…"

"A brawl?" Simon supplied helpfully "It could be In uish parlor conversation froe"

As they entered the h the mass of faces…there was Simon’s older sister, Sally, the marriedlike Pah the little circuit of rooer brothers, and a younger sister na in all the tumult From what Simon had told Annabelle, he had a special fondness for Meredith, as quite different fro shy and bookish

The children crowded around Si the to simultaneously inspect a newly lost tooth and apply a handkerchief to a runny nose The first fewones, with rounds of shouted introductions, and children scattering back and forth, and the yowling indignation of a hearthside cat who had just been nipped by an inquisitive puppy Annabelle had every expectation that things would caleneral upheaval continued all through the evening She had brief glimpses of her mother’s frozen smile, and Jeremy’s relaxed enjoyment, and Simon’s amused exasperation as his efforts to settle the bedlam met with poor results