Surely he can't." "Do you care very much ?" Mrs.Dyott asked.
Her friend now hesitated.

"It depends on what you call 'much.' If you mean should I like to see him--then certainly." "Well, my dear, I think he understands you're here." "So that as he evidently isn't coming," Maud laughed, "it's particularly flattering! Or rather," she added, giving up the prospect again, "it would be, I think, quite extraordinarily flattering if he did.

Except that of course," she threw in, "he might come partly for you." "'Partly' is charming.

Thank you for 'partly.' If you ARE going upstairs, will you kindly," Mrs Dyott pursued, "put these into the box as you pass ?" The younger woman, taking the little pile of letters, considered them with envy.

"Nine! You ARE good.