'I wanted to speak to her. Considering she's my husband's ward, I see very, very little of Hyacinth, Miss Yeo.'
'Yes, she was saying the other day that you hardly ever called now,'
Anne said conciliatingly.
'Has she been quite well lately?'
'Oh, do you know, she's been so well,' said Anne, in a high, affected voice, which she knew was intensely irritating. 'So very, very well!'
Anne then stood up.
'Would you like a cup of tea, or coffee, while you're waiting?'
'Tea? At three o'clock in the afternoon! I never heard of such a thing. You seem to have strangely Bohemian ideas in this house, Miss Yeo!'
'Do you think tea Bohemian? Well, coffee then?'
Lady Cannon hesitated, but wishing for an excuse to wait, she said—
'Thank you, if it isn't giving any trouble; perhaps I'll take a cup of coffee. I didn't have any after lunch.'