Landed Gentry: A Comedy in Four Acts

by W. Somerset Maugham

I didn’t go for my enjoyment, Grace; I went to exercise the horses.

Grace.

[Smiling.] Meanwhile, I hear you took the opportunity of enlarging Edith’s young mind.

Miss Vernon.

[To Edith.] When you come to Foley you must remind me to show you the portraits of my great-grandmother, Mary Vernon. She had a tremendous affair with the Regent, you know.

Mrs. Insoley.

[Pleasantly.] My dear Helen, I have the greatest affection for you, but I cannot allow a statement like that to go unchallenged. There is no evidence whatever of the truth of it.

Miss Vernon.

I don’t know how you can say that, Mrs. Insoley, considering that I have all my great-grandmother’s letters to the Regent.

Mrs. Insoley.