It's rather fun to feel that sort of thing doesn't matter.

Ah, here is Burke coming now!" She glanced up at the thudding of his horse's hoofs.
Merston went out again into the blinding sunlight to greet his host, and Sylvia turned to the thin, pinched woman beside her.
"I expect you would like to come inside and take off your hat and wash.

It is hot, isn't it?
Shall we go in and get respectable ?" She spoke with that winning friendliness of hers that few could resist.

Mrs.Merston's lined face softened almost in spite of itself.

She got up.