"I think children are the most greedy, unsatisfied individuals in--" she
began.
"I was not alluding to Curzon Street children," observed Mrs. Trent,
interrupting. "When I speak in general terms of anything I always except
London."
"Why?" said Sally Perceval.
"Because it's no more natural, no more central, no more in line with the
truth of things than you are, Sally."
"But, my dear, you surely aren't a belated follower of Tolstoi!" cried
Mrs. Wolfstein. "You don't want us all to live like day labourers."
"I don't want anybody to do anything, but if happiness is to be taught it
must not be by a man or by a Londoner."
"I had no idea you had been caught by the cult of simplicity," said Mrs.
Wolfstein. "But you are so clever. You reveal your dislikes but conceal
your preferences. Most women think that if they only conceal their
dislikes they are quite perfectly subtle."
"Subtle people are delicious," said Lady Manby, putting her mouth on one
side. "They remind me of a kleptomaniac I once knew who had a little
pocket closed by a flap let into the front of her gown. When she dined
out she filled it with scraps. Once she dined with us and I saw her, when
she thought no one was watching, peppering her pocket with cayenne, and
looking so delightfully sly and thieving. Subtle people are always
peppering their little pockets and thinking nobody sees them."
"And lots of people don't," said Mrs.
Pages:
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72