"I know. How is your father? Much as usual?"
Her tone conveyed disparagement. She had a poor opinion of Alastair Edward Brent, ninth Marquis of Caterham. She would have called him, had she known the term, a "poor fish."
"Father is very well. He's down at Chimneys."
"Indeed. You know, Eileen, I never approved of the letting of Chimneys. The place is, in many ways, a historical monument. It should not be cheapened."
"It must have been wonderful in Uncle Henry's day," said Bundle with a slight sigh.
"Henry realized his responsibilities," said Henry's widow.
"Think of the people who stayed there," went on Bundle ecstatically. "All the principal statesmen of Europe."
Lady Caterham sighed.
"I can truly say that history has been made there more than once," she observed. "If only your father—"
She shook her head sadly.