"Yes—you wrote about Mrs. Burr, and how she was a commonplace person. We thought you unfeeling about Mrs. Burr."
"I was, quite! I can't tell you how it has been on our consciences, Clo's and mine, that we have been unable to take an interest in Mrs. Burr. We tried to make up for it, by one of us going every day to see her in the hospital. I must say for her that she asked about Mrs. Prichard as soon as she was able to speak—asked if she was being got out, and said she supposed it was the repairs. She is not an imaginative or demonstrative person, you see. When I suggested to her that she should come to look after Mrs. Prichard in the country, till the house was rebuilt, she only said she was going to her married niece's at Clapham. I don't know why, but her married niece at Clapham seemed to me indisputable, like an Act of Parliament. I said 'Oh yes!' in a convinced sort of way, as if I knew this niece, and acknowledged Clapham."
"Then you have got the old lady at the Towers?"
"Yes—yesterday. I don't know how it's going to answer."
Adrian said: "Why shouldn't it answer?"
Irene was sharper. "Because of the servants, I suppose," said she.
Gwen said:—"Ye-es, because of the household."
"I thought," said Adrian, "that she was such a charming old lady." This took plenty of omissions for granted.
"So she is," said Gwen. "At least, I think her most sweet and fascinating. But really—the British servant!"
"I know," said Irene.