"And what happened?"
"Oh, it was so dreadful. My acquaintances rallied round me. Have you ever been rallied round?"
"I don't know that I have."
"It is most fatiguing. It is worse than the Derby, although, of course, you avoid the coaches. Another time I tried to become unfashionable—did my hair on the nape of my neck, wore a pelerine and elastic-sided boots."
"Surely they let you go then?"
"No. On the contrary, the Park was full of pelerines, and you met elastic-sided boots everywhere, even at Marlborough House."
"Marlborough House! You visit there?"
"Oh, naturally! Then, as a last resource, I took a really desperate step."
"What was that?"
"I went to live in St John's Wood."