"No; that's what I said. It was he who desired me to ask Mrs. Conway Sparkes to come here. I didn't want her. She goes everywhere, and it is thought a catch to get her; but if she had been drowned in the Red Sea I shouldn't have minded. When I told him that, he said it was nonsense,--which of course it was; and then he said I ought to make her hold her tongue. Of course I said I couldn't. Mrs. Conway Sparkes wouldn't care for me. If she quizzed me, myself, I told him that I could take care of myself, though she were ten times Mrs. Conway Sparkes, and had written finer poetry than Tennyson."
"It is fine;--some of it," said Alice.

"No; that's what I said. It was he who wanted me to ask Mrs. Conway Sparkes here. I didn't want her, although she goes everywhere. When I told him that, he said it was nonsense, and I ought to make her hold her tongue. Of course I said I couldn't. Mrs. Conway Sparkes wouldn't care about me. 