Explore "A Coward" by Edith Wharton on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
"My daughter Irene," said Mrs. Carstyle (she made it rhyme with _tureen_), "has had no social advantages; but if Mr. Carstyle had chosen -- " she paused significantly and looked at the shabby sofa on the opposite side of the fire-place as though it had been Mr. Carstyle. Vibart was glad that it was not.
Mrs. Carstyle was one of the women who make refinement vulgar. She invariably spoke of her husband as _Mr. Carstyle_ and, though she had but one daughter, was always careful to designate the young lady by name. At luncheon she had talked a great deal of elevating influences and ideals, and had fluctuated between apologies for the overdone mutton and affected surprise that the bewildered maid-servant should have forgotten to serve the coffee and liqueurs _as usual_.