But having said it, she saw at once that it was better to say more—to explain, to tell Madge that which she felt others might suspect, though she had no reasonable cause for supposing that anybody suspected anything. Only it seemed incredible that what was real to her, that which was her life, should be nonexistent for others. She wanted to be assured that it was so, that nobody else suspected anything.
"Tell me," she said, "are people talking about me?"
Madge Heron laughed.
"They are talking about no one else," she said. "You are the theme; it is to the theme I have paid my tribute-money."
Lucia swept a place clear for her elbows; they were still sitting at the dinner-table, though a full quarter of an hour had passed since the servant had told her the carriage was at the door.
"Oh, I don't mean that," she said. "But domestic affairs are the only things that really interest the public. So—are they talking about me?"
"Oh yes," said Madge.
"I understand; so do you. Charlie is supposed to be in love with me, is it not so? And am I supposed to be in love with him? It is that that matters. God knows why, but in this higgledy-piggledy world it is thought quite nice that heaps of men should be in love with a woman, but if that unfortunate woman is supposed to be in love with any of them, there is talk—talk—talk. I" (even Lucia stumbled then) "I am not in love with Charlie. Do they say I am?"
Madge again felt what she had not felt for the last year or so, that she was immeasurably ahead of Lucia.
"Oh yes, they say that," she said. "But what does it matter? You can get anybody to say anything."
"I would give a great deal to get anybody not to say that," said Lucia.
"Yes, but it is impossible to give enough to make people hold their tongues," said Madge. "Twopence-halfpenny or less will set tongues wagging, but there is only one thing that will stop them!"
"And that?" asked Lucia.
"Giving them nothing to wag about. That, and taking no notice when they do wag. It is not sufficient to pretend to take no notice; you have really to take no notice."
"But if people say things to Maud or to Edgar?" asked Lucia. The play was completely forgotten.
