On the third day after posting his letter to Constance Bride, he received her reply.  It was much longer than he had expected.  Beginning with a rather formal expression of interest in Dyce’s views, Constance went on to say that she had already spoken of him to Lady Ogram, 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 distinctly to his disadvantage—­and, in that case, you must take your chance of being dealt with as a calumniator or a sycophant; all depends on Lady Ogram’s mood of the moment.  Detesting Mr. Robb, she naturally aims at ousting