‘After I’ve had a skite in London first.’

The old lady sniffs. ‘So she is in London!’

‘Who?’

‘Your young lady.’

‘Are you jealyous?’

‘Not me.’

‘You needna be. She’s a young thing.’

‘You surprises me. A beauty, no doubt?’

‘You may be sure.’ He tries the jam. ‘She’s a titled person. She is equally popular as maid, wife and munition-worker.’

Mrs. Dowey remembers Lady Dolly Kanister, so familiar to readers of fashionable gossip, and a very leery expression indeed comes into her face.