"Well, I don't know the extent of the party, but the Bawtrys are going," replied Lady Dering.

"The Bawtrys?" exclaimed Sir William, surprised out of his resolve to take no part in a conversation he found distasteful.

"Ermyntrude is getting on, isn't she?" said Hugh. "I thought Connie Bawtry was stoutly Old Guard?"

"Ha!" said Sir William. "Another of the hospital committee! Upon my soul, things have come to a pretty pass!"

"Oh, is that the racket?" said Hugh. "I rather wondered."

"That's my racket," corrected his mother. "Not Connie Bawtry's. At least, it is really, only she won't own it."

"Then what the devil takes her to Palings?" demanded Sir William.

"God, apparently. It's all right, dear; I'm not being profane. Connie's been Changed. She's got under God Control, or something, and she says what the world needs is God-guided citizens, and if you learn Absolute Love you don't mind about Ermyntrude's accent, or Wally Carter's habits."

"Gone Groupy, has she?" said Hugh. "How rotten for Tom!"

"Well, it is rather, because Connie's started forgiving him for all sorts of things he never knew he'd done. We're hoping that she'll get over it quickly, because she's president of the Women's Conservative Association, besides running the Mothers, and the Village Club, and now that she's a God-guided citizen she simply hasn't a moment to attend to Good Works. I don't know why it is, but when people get Changed they never seem to be as nice as they were before."

"Tomfoolery!" said Sir William. "I thought she had more sense!"

"It's since Elizabeth got married, and went to India," explained his wife. "Poor dear, I expect she suddenly felt rather aimless, and that's how it happened. Only I thought I'd better warn you both."

"Good God!" said Sir William. "She won't talk that stuff, will she?"

"Oh yes, she's bound to! As far as I can make out, you practically have to testify, if you're God-controlled."