"I don't exactly know what you mean by your heathen talk of vortices," snapped Lady Canvey. "Dust we are, and unto dust shall we return."
"Not Jim," protested Leah: "he would return to mud. He just looks as though he were made of sticky, clayey, stodgy mud."
"It is not original to abuse your husband."
"I know that; but you are too old-fashioned to admire originality."
Lady Canvey thumped with her stick vigorously. "Do not be so desperately sharp, Leah; you make my head ache. By the way, I have news for you about that nice boy you treated so badly."
"I have treated so many nice boys badly. Billy Richardson, Algy Turner, Harry Askew----"
"The last. He is to be married."
"I knew that a year ago. He left before Jim came home to make some Spanish creature his wife."
"Miss Mamie Mulrady does not sound like a Spanish name."
"That girl! You don't say so?" Leah looked genuinely surprised. "I suppose Señorita Fajardo would not have him. Perhaps she is waiting for Mr. Berring."