And then I really had to pretend that there was somebody at the other end of the room who wanted to speak to me... I hope I am tolerably good-tempered, but I will not allow every one to make himself a ruler and a judge... All through the summer it had been "Mrs. Sawyer this" and "Mrs. Sawyer that". _Dear_ Consuelo was so charming, her parties were so delightful. If one did not know her, one must take steps to become acquainted. And so forth and so on... In the autumn there was what I can only describe as a _guilty silence_; it was in questionable taste to mention her; she dropped out completely, and one almost begged one's man _not_ to bring the car home by way of South Audley Street. Every one seemed to fear that she might present herself any day at the door and claim to be taken in and supported by those who had only accepted her too lavish hospitality because they were "friends" and a little sorry for her lonely state. Then came the great surprise... It can only have been a surprise to people who had _jumped_ to conclusions without troubling to collect a _shred_ of evidence... I purposely kept my mind a blank... There were rumours; and then one read the announcement--that she was marrying this Major Blanstock. I believe she is a great heiress, I believe her husband _did_ drink himself to death. And I still believe, as I always believed, that she is a thoroughly nice, very unhappy woman... She would never have done for Will... As you would be the first to agree, if you had seen her. Oh, I can't describe my relief that nothing came of _that_. The difference of blood and breeding--Roman Catholic and Anglican, Latin and Anglo-Saxon... But I feel that the poor woman would have been given a fairer chance if her own people at the Legation had been able to tell us something about her. If they can't do that, I really don't know what they are there for or why one takes the trouble to invite them to one's house... VII LADY ANN SPENWORTH DEPLORES PROPOSALS BY WOMEN