“It is strange, you know. Sons always believe in the virtue of their mothers; daughters, too, but not so implicitly. And yet the fact of a woman having had children is surely not sufficient to prove that she has never had lovers.”
She reflected a moment, and then went on:
“Things are complicated in this world. Goodbye, mon petit. I am walking, and have only just time to get there.”
“Why are you walking?”
“Because it is good for my health, and then it explains my not having the carriage. And it’s rather fun.”
She scrutinized herself in the looking-glass, first three-quarter-ways, then sideways, finally glancing at her back view.
“At this hour of the day, for instance, I am sure to collect a good number of followers.”
“Why?”
“Because I look rather nice.”
“What I mean is, why at this hour specially?”