Lady John sat down, with pity and annoyance struggling for the mastery.
'You care about him still?'
'No.'
'No? And yet you—I see! There are obviously certain things he can give his wife, and you naturally want to marry somebody.'
'Oh, Lady John,' said Vida, wearily, 'there are no men listening.'
'No'—she looked round surprised—'I didn't suppose there were.'
'Then why keep up that old pretence?'
'What pret——'
'That to marry at all costs is every woman's dearest ambition till the grave closes over her. You and I know it isn't true.'