"I'm not so sure," Grizel said shrewdly. "I'm his wife and he adores me, but he'd rather play golf with a boring man with a good handicap, and come home to find me sitting on a sofa looking pretty and fluffy, ready to acclaim his exploits, and listen to volumes about every hole, and the marvellous way in which he cleeked his tee off the bogie. Well! what is it? Don't you call it a bogie?" She laughed herself, in sympathy with the other's merriment, and ended with an involuntary: "Lady Cassandra! I'm so _glad_ you came. Do let us often laugh together! I have such a comfortable feeling that you won't be shocked at anything I say." "No one ever shocks me, except myself. You don't know how glad I shall be. I'm really rather a lonely person, though I've lived here so long. It seems extraordinary to have had this intimate conversation with you on our very first meeting. I wouldn't dream of discussing such matters with any other woman in the neighbourhood." "Of course not. You don't know anyone else so well. We _are_ intimates, so what's the use of hedging?" "I don't want to hedge. I'm only too thankful to know it. It's not healthy to live so much alone. One grows introspective. These last years I've been growing more and more absorbed in Cassandra Raynor." "Well! she _is_ attractive, isn't she? I'm going to do exactly the same. I felt it in my bones the moment you entered the room. You felt it too! I saw the little spark leap to your eyes." "It did. It's quite true, but I ought to warn you that being associated with me, won't make you any more popular in Chumley. Chumley doesn't-- approve of me! I expect you are sensitive enough to atmospheres to have grasped that fact for yourself?" "I did. Yes. But why?" "Oh, many reasons. I dress fashionably. I hate parish work. I don't go to `teas,' or give them in return. I'm lazy about calls. I'm not interested in the people, and I can't pretend." "Oh, but I shall be interested. I always am. I love all those dear old things in their dolmans and black silks. They are types of the old-fashioned women, whom I've read about, but never known. I shall love studying them, and hearing their views, and shocking them by telling them mine in return. They'll love being shocked--all prim old ladies love it. They're all walking home now, buzzing over my _faux pas_, and feeling as perked up as if they'd been to the theatre. They think they are grieved, but they have really enjoyed themselves immensely. I lived with a very old great-aunt before my marriage, so I'm an expert in old ladies."