"He is generally considered to be a clever man," remarked Lady Farley drily.
"I know he is; and so good and religious too. Of course it is awfully nice for a man to be clever and religious and all that, but it seems a funny reason for marrying him, don't you think?"
Lady Farley smiled satirically. "Funnier than if he were rich or had a title," she said.
"But Isabel always was rather original, Caroline. I wonder if she will be happy with Mr. Seaton."
"That is the idea, I believe. Of course one cannot tell yet how it will work out."
"And you will miss her, I dare say," continued Lady Esdaile, not noticing that her sister-in-law winced at this remark, "it will quite be like losing a daughter. I should mind dreadfully if Violet were to get married—and yet I should mind more if she didn't, I think. It really is difficult to know always what one does want."
"And still more difficult to get it," added Lady Farley.
"I never know which one hates the most—the men who want to marry your daughter or the men who don't. They both seem tiresome somehow, don't they, Caroline?"
"My dear Constance, all men are more or less tiresome."
"I know," replied Lady Esdaile feelingly, "and so silly about their dinners. Richard says our new cook is 'a woman of one gravy,' and he wants me to speak about it to the housekeeper; but if ever I do speak about things it always ends in unpleasantness, and I'd far rather make Richard angry than one of the servants; so I shan't interfere."