Few had much room to cast stones, but hypocrisy has never failed the English middle class in any latitude, and they flung them in plenty with delighted, shocked abandon – rocks, boulders, limited in size only by fear for their husband's advancement. Conciliating discretion had never been among Mrs Villiers's qualities, and if subjects for malignant gossip had been wanting she would have provided them by the elephant-load.
The passage speaks to the hypocrisy of the English middle class, highlighting their readiness to judge others while often being equally flawed themselves. Mrs. Villiers is depicted as a character who lacks discretion and is willing to gossip freely, suggesting that her own failings could make her a target of criticism. Instead of self-reflection, she thrives on spreading rumors, exhibiting the very moral shortcomings she condemns in others.
This behavior illustrates a broader theme in society where judgment is easily cast without recognizing one's own faults. The comparison of gossip to rocks and boulders symbolizes the weight of these judgments, which are often driven by a desire to protect social status rather than genuine moral superiority. The text critiques the double standards prevalent among those who align themselves with societal norms while secretly indulging in the behaviors they publicly denounce.
