To her other emotions, Mrs.De Peyster had added a new shock.

For William the peerless--fit coachman for an emperor--William, whom till that night she could not have imagined, had she imagined about such things at all, other than as sleeping in a high collar and with all his brass buttons snugly buttoned--William was coatless, and collarless, and slouching from his mouth was an old pipe! He came in with a haughty glower, for he had supposed the ring to be Matilda's.

But at sight of Jack and Mary his face went blank with amazement.
"Why, why, Mr.Jack!" Hastily he jerked his pipe into his pocket and began buttoning the open collar of his shirt.

"I--I beg pardon, sir." "Hello, William! This is Mrs.Jack, William.

Just married.