“No! Well, perhaps yes, partly. And you are a very attractive woman yourself.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“It is quite true. I expect you know it.”
“I’m over forty and ill. I suppose that is what you find attractive, that I am ill?”
“I don’t think so. I hate hysterical women as a rule.”
“Hysterical!”
“With any form of nerve disease.”
“Do you really think I am suffering from nerve disease? From the vapours?” I asked scornfully, thinking for the thousand and first time what a fool the man was.
“You don’t occupy yourself?”
“I’m one of the busiest women on God’s earth.”