Another pause.
'Do you know, said Margot, 'it's an odd thing, but I do believe that after all these years I'm beginning to be regarded as no longer a respectable woman. I told you when I wrote, didn't I, that Lady Circumference cut me the other day? Of course she's just a thoroughly bad-mannered old woman, but there have been a whole lot of things rather like that lately. Don't you think it's rather awful?
'You won't mind much, will you? said Paul. 'They're awful old bores, anyway.
'Yes, but I don't like them dropping me. Of course, I don't mind, really, but I think it's just a pity, particularly for Peter. It's not just Lady Circumference, but Lady Vanburgh and Fanny Simpleforth and the Stayles and all those people. It's a pity it should happen just when Peter's beginning to be a little class-conscious, anyway. It'll give him all the wrong ideas, don't you think?
'How's business? asked Paul abruptly.
'Paul, you mustn't be nasty to me, said Margot in a low voice. 'I don't think you'd say that if you knew quite how I was feeling.
'I'm sorry, Margot. As a matter of fact, I just wanted to know.
'I'm selling out. A Swiss firm was making things difficult. But I don't think that business has anything to do with the ‑ the ostracism, as Maltravers would say. I believe it's all because I'm beginning to grow old.
'I never heard anything so ridiculous. Why, all those people are about eighty, and anyway, you aren't at all.
'I was afraid you wouldn't understand, said Margot, and there was another pause.