“Slumming must be splendid! It's so deadly here—nothing but flannel petticoats.”
“The poor, my dear,” began Mrs. Mattock, “are not the least bit what you think them—”
“Oh, d' you know, I think they're rather nice!” broke in Aunt Charlotte close to the hydrangea.
“You think so?” said Mrs. Mattock sharply. “I find they do nothing but grumble.”
“They don't grumble at me: they are delightful persons”, and Lady Bonington gave Shelton a grim smile.
He could not help thinking that to grumble in the presence of that rich, despotic personality would require a superhuman courage.
“They're the most ungrateful people in the world,” said Mrs. Mattock.
“Why, then,” thought Shelton, “do you go amongst them?”
She continued, “One must do them good, one, must do one's duty, but as to getting thanks—”
Lady Bonington sardonically said,