All Lady Rossiter's Christianity was required to induce her to accept as even faintly probable the ultimate evolution of a Divine Spark from the personality of Ruthie. But she always felt bound to act upon such an assumption, if only because Sir Julian so firmly and completely rejected it.
"I thought Horber told you I was busy, Ruthie. I can't see either of you now, you must run home again."
"Auntie Iris is here, too," said Ruthie triumphantly.
Lady Rossiter did not relegate the value of Auntie Iris' society to the abysmal depths of contempt to which Sir Julian had long since uncharitably consigned it, partly because her principles never allowed her any point of view other than one consciously superior to that of her husband's, and partly because Auntie Iris had always been prone to seek her advice with a certain gushing deference that was not without its appeal. Nevertheless, she received with a very apparent absence of elation the announcement of her young neighbour's proximity.
"Where is Auntie Iris?"
"She is with Sir Julian. He met us all in the drive."
"Did he tell you to come up to the house and find me?"
"Oh, no, we came all of ourselves. We've got such a piece of news."
Lady Rossiter was reminded of an earlier occasion, when the heralds of Auntie Iris had thrust themselves unbidden into her presence.
"Has 'Why, Ben!' gone into a second edition?"