"Old age has its privileges," Lady Canvey reminded her; "and you can be so cleverly nasty when you like, that it amuses me to bring the worst out of you."
"What a doubtful compliment! Do you extract amusement from the Tallentire girl in the same way?"
"She has no bad in her."
"Quite so, and you never try to bring out the good which does not amuse you. Sunday schools are beneficial rather than entertaining. I don't see Miss--what's her name?" and Lady Jim glanced round the room.
"Joan Tallentire," snapped her hostess; "you remember the name well enough. It's fashionable to have a short memory, I suppose."
"For debts," said Leah, sweetly; "but Miss Tallentire?"
"She is looking after her father's house, as the mother is ill."
"Poor woman! I hope Lionel is not preaching at her, to make her worse."
"Lionel isn't always in the pulpit. By the way, Leah, he told me that he had a serious talk with you at Firmingham."
"Did he? Yes! I believe he did give me a dull quarter of an hour. Something about sin, I fancy it was. Parsons have a monomania on that subject."