Richard Farnborough glanced at her as if he resented the note of wondering pity in the low tone.
'It's never so bad for the lunatic,' he said, 'as for the sane people looking on.'
'Oh, I don't suppose _they_ mind,' said Hermione--'women like _that_.'
'It's flattery to call them women. They're sexless monstrosities,' said Paul Filey.
'You know some of them?' Vida raised her head.
'_I?_' Filey's face was nothing less than aghast at the mere suggestion.
'But I suppose you've gone and listened to them haranguing the crowds.'
'Well, you see we're all so certain they're such abominations,' said Vida, 'I thought maybe some of us knew something about them.'
Dick Farnborough was heard saying to Lord John in a tone of cheerful vigour--
'Locking up is too good for 'em. I'd give 'em a good thrashin'.'
'Spirited fellow!' said Miss Levering, promptly, with an accent that brought down a laugh on the young gentleman's head.
He joined in it, but with a _naïf_ uneasiness. What's the matter with the woman?--his vaguely bewildered face seemed to inquire. After all, I'm only agreeing with her.
'Few of us have time, I imagine,' said Filey, 'to go and listen to their ravings.'
As Filey was quite the idlest of men, without the preoccupation of being a tolerable sportsman or even a player of games, Miss Levering's little laugh was echoed by others beside Lady Sophia.
'At all events,' said Vida to Lord Borrodaile, as she stood up, and he drew her chair out of her way, 'even if we don't know much about these women, we've spent a happy hour denouncing them.'
'Who's going to have a short round before sundown?' said Lady Sophia, getting up briskly. '_You_, of course, Mr. Filey. Or are you too "busy"?'
'Say too thirsty. May I?' He carried his cup round to Lady John, not seeming to see Hermione's hospitable hand held out for it.
In the general shuffle Farnborough found himself carried off by Sophia and Lord John.
'Who is our fourth?' said Lady Sophia, suddenly.
'Oh, Borrodaile!' Lord John stopped halfway across the lawn and called back, 'aren't you coming?'
'It's not a bit of use,' said Sophia. 'You'll see. He's safe to sit there and talk to Miss Levering till the dressing-bell rings.'
'Isn't she a _nice_ creature!' said Lord John. 'I can't think how a woman like that hasn't got some nice fella to marry her!'