'Not by people like you. But it does need saying when it comes to people we know——'
'Like Mrs. Freddy. Yes.'
That unfortunate little lady seemed to be 'getting it' on all sides. Even her brother-in-law, who was known to be in reality a great ally of hers—even Lord Borrodaile was chuckling as though at some reflection distinctly diverting.
'Poor Laura! She was being unmercifully chaffed about it last night.'
'I don't myself consider it any longer a subject for chaff,' said Lord John.
'No,' agreed his wife; 'I felt that before this last outbreak. At the time of the first disturbance—where was it?—in some town in the North several weeks ago——'
'Yes,' said Vida Levering; 'I almost think that was even worse!'
'Conceive the sublime impertinence,' said Lady John, 'of an ignorant little factory girl presuming to stand up in public and interrupt a speech by a minister of the Crown!'
'I don't know what we're coming to, I'm sure!' said Borrodaile, with a detached air.
'Oh, that girl—beyond a doubt,' said his host, with conviction—'that girl was touched.'