“Father is very well. He’s down at Chimneys.”
“Indeed. You know, Eileen, I never approved of the letting of Chimneys. The place is in many ways a historical monument. It should not be cheapened.”
“It must have been wonderful in Uncle Henry’s day,” said Bundle with a slight sigh.
“Henry realised his responsibilities,” said Henry’s widow.
“Think of the people who stayed there,” went on Bundle ecstatically. “All the principal statesmen of Europe.”
Lady Caterham sighed.
“I can truly say that history has been made there more than once,” she observed. “If only your father—”
She shook her head sadly.
“Politics bore Father,” said Bundle, “and yet they are about the most fascinating study there is, I should say. Especially if one knew about them from the inside.”
She made this extravagantly untruthful statement of her feelings without even a blush. Her aunt looked at her with some surprise.
“I am pleased to hear you say so,” she said. “I always imagined, Eileen, that you cared for nothing but this modern pursuit of pleasure.”
“I used to,” said Bundle.
“It is true that you are still very young,” said Lady Caterham thoughtfully. “But with your advantages, and if you were to marry suitably, you might be one of the leading political hostesses of the day.”