"The beginning, my dear."
"I don't know. We're almost at the end of our tether."
"Well, you knew that would happen."
"Yes—I suppose I did. I remember making admirable, lucid plans to meet the event. Nothing particular has happened to upset them."
"Nothing at all, my dear."
"By the way, the Rajah has asked me to marry him."
Mrs. Smithers laughed. Her amusement was usually of a more restrained kind, and the laugh had a rusty, disused sound.
"That's a good joke."
"Isn't it? I don't think he would have offered me anything so respectable if he had had more pluck. He's terrified of me and of Gaya. He imagines Gaya would make him impossible if he insulted me. I've outgrown his original intentions altogether."
"What did you say?"