CHAPTER XVI.
Mrs.Podgens' Baby The hunting season had now nearly passed away, and the great ones of the Barsetshire world were thinking of the glories of London.
Of these glories Lady Lufton always thought with much inquietude of mind.

She would fain have remained throughout the whole year at Framley Court, did not certain grave considerations render such a course on her part improper in her own estimation.

All the Lady Luftons of whom she had heard, dowager and ante-dowager, had always had their seasons in London, till old age had incapacitated them for such doings--sometimes for clearly long after the arrival of such period.

And then she had an idea, perhaps not altogether erroneous, that she annually imported back with her into the country somewhat of the passing civilization of the times:--may we not say an idea that certainly was not erroneous?
for how otherwise is it that the forms of new caps and remodelled shapes for women's waists find their way down into agricultural parts, and that the rural eye learns to appreciate grace and beauty?
There are those who think that remodelled waists and new caps had better be kept to the towns; but such people, if they would follow out their own argument, would wish to see plough-boys painted with ruddle and milkmaids covered with skins.

For these and other reasons Lady Lufton always went to London in April, and stayed there till the beginning of June.