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Well, that was true, Hyacinth had to acknowledge To herself, of course If she actually admitted as much out loud, her mother would take that as a carte blanche to pursue Mr St Clair until he ran screa for the trees

“Mother,” Hyacinth said, pausing for slightly longer than norhts, “I a to chase after Mr St Clair He’s not at all the right sort of man for me”

“I’ht sort ofan elephant”

“I would think the elephant would be a fairly good indication that I ought to look elsewhere”

“Hyacinth”

“And besides that,” Hyacinth added, thinking about the way Mr St Clair always see manner of his, “I don’t think he likes me very much”

“Nonsense,” Violet said, with all the outrage of a mother hen “Everyone likes you”

Hyacinth thought about that for a moment “No,” she said, “I don’t think everyone does”

“Hyacinth, I am your mother, and I know—”

“Mother, you’re the last person anyone would tell if they didn’t like me”

“Nevertheless—”

“Mother,” Hyacinth cut in, setting her teacup firmly in its saucer, “it is of no concern I don’t mind that I am not universally adored If I wanted everyone to likeall the time, and ould be the fun in that?”

“You sound like Lady Danbury,” Violet said

“I like Lady Danbury”

“I like her, too, but that doesn’t hter”