who
would be very glad to make his acquaintance. He might call at Rivenoak
whenever he liked; Lady Ogram generally had a short drive in the
morning, but in the afternoon she was always at home. The state of her
health did not allow her to move much; her eyes forbade much reading;
consequently, talk with interesting people was one of her chief
resources.

"I say with _interesting_ people, and use the word advisedly. Anything
that does _not_ interest her, she will not endure. Being frankness
itself, she says exactly what she thinks, without the least regard for
others' feelings. If talk is (or seems to her) dull, she declares that
she has had enough of it. I don't think there is any need to warn you
of this, but it may be as well that you should know it.

"Whilst I am writing, I had better mention one or two other
peculiarities of Lady Ogram. At the first glance you will see that she
is an invalid, but woe to you if you show that you see it. She insists
on being treated by everyone (I suppose, her doctor excepted, but I am
not sure) as if she were in perfect health. You will probably hear her
make plans for drives, rides, even long walks about the country, and
something more than mere good breeding must rule your features as you
listen. Occasionally her speech is indistinct; you must manage never to
miss a word she says. She is slightly--very slightly--deaf; you must
speak in your natural voice, yet never oblige her to be in doubt as to
what you say. She likes a respectful manner, but if it is overdone the
indiscretion soon receives a startling reproof. Be as easy as you like
in her presence provided that your ease is natural; if it strikes Lady
Ogram as self-assertion--beware the lash! From time to time she will
permit herself a phrase or an exclamation which reminds one that her
birth was not precisely aristocratic; but don't imagine that anyone
else is allowed to use a too racy vernacular; you must guard your
expressions, and the choicer they are the better she is pleased.

"As you may wish to speak of polities, I will tell you that, until a
year or two ago, Lady Ogram was a strong Conservative; she is now on
the Liberal side, perhaps for the simple reason that she has quarrelled
with the Conservative member of Hollingford, Mr. Robb. I need not go
into the details of the affair; sufficient that the name of Robb
excites her fury, and that it is better to say nothing about the man at
all unless you know something dis