The Confessions of a Well-Meaning Woman By STEPHEN McKENNA CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne First published 1922. _BY THE SAME AUTHOR_ THE SENSATIONALISTS Part III: The Secret Victory THE SENSATIONALISTS Part II: The Education of Eric Lane THE SENSATIONALISTS Part I: Lady Lilith SONIA MARRIED MIDAS AND SON NINETY-SIX HOURS' LEAVE SONIA THE SIXTH SENSE SHEILA INTERVENES THE RELUCTANT LOVER * * * WHILE I REMEMBER To LORD AND LADY BEAUCHAMP In Gratitude for their Hospitality at Walmer Castle, where this book was begun, and at Madresfield Court, where it was finished. _Cusins_: Do you call poverty a crime? _Undershaft_: The worst of crimes ... Poverty ... strikes dead the very souls of all who come within sight, sound or smell of it.... BERNARD SHAW: _Major Barbara_. CONTENTS 1. Lady Ann Spenworth Prefers Not to Discuss Her Operation 2. She Repudiates all Responsibility 3. She Touches Reluctantly on Divorce 4. She is Content with a Little Music 5. She Refuses to Become a Match-Maker 6. She Holds the _Corps Diplomatique_ to its Duty 7. She Deplores Proposals by Women 8. She Refers to Her Diary 9. She Narrates an Embarrassment Averted 10. She as a Prisoner in Her own House 11. She Finds Her Heart Warming 12. She Defends Her Consistency THE CONFESSIONS OF A WELL-MEANING WOMAN I LADY ANN SPENWORTH PREFERS NOT TO DISCUSS HER OPERATION _Lady Ann_ (_to a friend of proved discretion_): You have toiled all the way here again? Do you know, I feel I am only _beginning_ to find out who are the _true_ friends? I am much, much better... On Friday I am to be allowed on to the sofa and by the end of next week Dr. Richardson promises to let me go back to Mount Street. Of course I should have _liked_ the operation to take place there--it is one's frame and setting, but, truly honestly, Arthur and I have not been in a position to have any painting or papering done for so long ... The surgeon insisted on a nursing-home. Apparatus and so on and so forth... Quite between ourselves, I fancy that they make a very good thing out of these homes; but I am so thankful to be well again that I would put up with almost any imposition... Everything went off too wonderfully. Perhaps you have seen my brother Brackenbury? Or Ruth? Ah, I am sorry; I should have been vastly entertained to hear what they were saying, what they _dared_ say. Ruth did indeed offer to pay the expenses of the operation--the belated prick of conscience!--; and it was on the tip of my tongue to say we are not yet dependent on her spasmodic charity. Also, that I can keep my lips closed about Brackenbury without expecting a--tip! But they know I can't _afford_ to refuse £500... If they, if everybody would only leave one _alone_! Spied on, whispered about...