'Physically impossible,' giggled Lady Castlerich. 'That's good. But won't you see me to my carriage, Mr. Harding. Did you say physically impossible?' The Major looked round, uncertain whom to address next. Catching Mr. Moulton, who was stealing past him, by the arm, he said: 'You, too, understand how humiliating it is to be a mere expense. Why don't you buy a type-writing machine?' 'Perhaps I shall ... the first money I get,' Mr. Moulton answered, and disengaging his arm he hurried away, leaving the Major alone with his wife. She sat in her arm-chair looking into the fire. The Major waited, expecting her to speak, but she said not a word. 'I want to talk to you, Olive.' 'To hear what I have to say about your conduct, I suppose. I have nothing to say.' 'I'm not clever, like you, and don't say the right thing, but something had to be done, and I did it as best I could.' 'You're madder than I thought you were.' 'Something had to be done?' 'Something had to be done! What do you mean? But it doesn't matter.' 'Yes, it does, Olive. I want you to understand that Agnes must be saved.' 'Saved!' 'Yes, saved from this drawing-room; you know that it is a pollution for one like her.' 'I remember,' said Mrs. Lahens, turning suddenly, 'that you said something about putting your house in order. I didn't understand what you meant. Did you mean this house?' 'Yes.' 'But you forget that this is my house. So you intend to rescue Agnes from this drawing-room. You can go, both of you.... I'll have both of you put out of doors!' 'You'll not turn your daughter out of doors!' 'If my drawing-room is not good enough for her, let her go back to the convent. You took her from me years ago; you never thought I was good enough for your daughter.' 'There was Chadwick. I begged of you to break with him for the sake of your daughter. You might have done that. I made sacrifices for her; I endured this house; I accepted your lover.' 'Accepted my lover! You did not expect a woman to be faithful to a man like you.... You didn't think that possible, did you?' 'What was I to do; what can a man do who is dependent on his wife for his support? Besides, there was more than myself to consider, there was Agnes; had I divorced you she would have suffered.' 'Of course you never thought of yourself--of this house; I daresay you look upon yourself quite as a hero. Well, upon my word----' Mrs. Lahens laughed. 'I don't think I thought of myself. I daresay the world put the worst construction on my conduct. But you can't say that I took much advantage of the fact that you were willing to let me live in the house. I gave up my room--I live in the meanest room--the kitchen-maid complained about it; she left it; there was no use for it. What I eat does not cost you much; I eat very little. Of course I know that that little is too much. Meantime, I'm trying to create a little independence.'