Mr. Shiffney pulled up his trousers a little more, exposing a pair of striped silk socks which emerged from shining boots protected by white spats. "To be sure. If he hadn't been he'd have jumped at you and _The Wanderer_." "Naturally. I shan't go at all now! What an unlucky woman I always am!" "You never let anyone know it." "Well, Jimmy, I'm not quite a fool. Be down on your luck and not a soul will stay near you." "I should think not. Why should they? One wants a bit of life, not to hear people howling and groaning all about one. It's awful to be with anyone who's under the weather." "Ghastly! I can't stand it! But, all the same, it's a fearful _corvee_ to keep it up when you're persecuted as I am." "Poor old Addie!" Mr. Shiffney threw his cigar into the grate reflectively and lightly touched his moustaches, which were turned upward, but not in a military manner. "Things never seem quite right for you," he continued. "And other women have such a splendid time!" she exclaimed. "The disgusting thing is that he goes all the while to Violet Mansfield." "She's dull enough and quite old too." "No, she isn't dull. You're wrong there." "I daresay. She doesn't amuse me." "She's not your sort." "Too feverish, too keen, brainy in the wrong way. I like brains, mind you, and I know where they are. But I don't see the fun of having them jumped at one." "He does, apparently, unless it's really Charmian." "The girl? She's not bad. Wants to be much cleverer than she is, of course, like pretty nearly all the girls, except the sporting lot; but not bad." "Jimmy"--Mrs. Shiffney's eyes began once more to look audacious--"shall I ask Charmian Mansfield to come on the yacht?" "You think that might bring him? Why not ask both of them?" "No; I won't have the mother!" "Why not?" "Because I won't!" "The best of reasons, too." "You understand us better than any man in London." She sat reflecting. She was beginning to look quite cheerful. "It would be rather fun," she resumed, after a minute. "Charmian Mansfield, Max--if he can get away--Paul Lane. It isn't the party I'd thought of, but still--" "Which of them were you going to take?" "Never mind." "I don't. And where did you mean to go?" "I told him to the Mediterranean." "But it wasn't!" "Oh, I don't know! Where can one go? That's another thing. It's always the same old places, unless one has months to spare, and then one gets bored with the people one's asked. Things are so difficult." "One place is very much like another." "To you. But I always hope for an adventure round the corner." "I've been round a lot of corners in my time, but I might almost as well have stuck to the club." "Of course _you_ might!" She got up. "I must think about Charmian," she said, as she went casually out of the room.