"Well, you know, Mr. Gorst has a very unpleasant reputation. At least he goes about with most objectionable people."
"You mean he's the same sort of person as Mr. Hannay?"
"I should say he was, if anything, worse."
"You mean he's a bad man?"
"Well—"
"So bad that you won't have him in the house?"
"Well, dear, you know we are particular." (A singularity that she shared with Johnson.)
"So am I," said Anne.
"And this," she said to herself, "is the man whom Edie's fond of, Walter's dearest friend. And my friends won't have him in their house."
"Charming, I believe, and delightful," said Mrs. Eliott, "but perhaps a little dangerous on that account. And one has to draw the line. I want to know about you, dear. You're well, though you're so thin?"