"That had something to do with it, I suppose. When we were at Benares Adelaide thought she would like to live there. The day after she thought so she found we must go away."
Miss Fleet carefully peeled off her white gloves and leaned back. Her odd eyes seemed to drop in their sockets, as if they were trying to tumble out.
"Isn't it—" Charmian began, and stopped abruptly.
"Yes?"
"I don't know what I was going to say."
"Perhaps a great bore not to be one's own mistress?" suggested Miss Fleet, composedly.
"Something of that sort perhaps."
"Oh, no! I'm accustomed to it. Freedom is a phrase. I'm quite as free as Adelaide. It's usually a great mistake to pity servants."
"And oneself? I suppose you would say it was a great mistake to pity oneself?"
"I never do it," replied Miss Fleet.