"So very old-fashioned, those notions, my dear Miss Jupp. Love!"
"Old-fashioned, are they?" fired Mary.
"A woman hazards more than she perhaps bargains for, when she ties herself, for better or for worse, to one of these attractive men: but of course she must put up with the consequences."
"What consequences?" exclaimed Mary Jupp, feeling herself puzzled by the speech altogether.
"The seeing herself a neglected wife: the seeing others preferred before her--as she must inevitably do when her own short reign is over."
"Had you to experience that?" sharply asked Mary Jupp, intending the question as a sting.
"I!" equably returned Lady Ellis. "My husband had nothing attractive about him, and was as old as Adam. I spoke of the wives of fascinating men: others may humdrum on to their graves, and be at peace."
"I don't see what there is to fascinate in young Lake. He is light-headed and careless, if that means fascination."
"Ah," superciliously remarked Lady Ellis, playing with her jet chain.
They were interrupted by Margaret Jupp, who came up with Mrs. Chester. The young lady, hearing of the expedition to the kitchens, was not pleased to have been omitted, so Mrs. Chester was going to do the honours again.