She became suddenly simple and direct.
'Well, now, Mrs Gildea, let us look at the matter without prejudice.
You are fond of Biddy and so am I, but we know her drawbacks.
Naturally, it wouldn't be a good thing under ordinary conditions, but is she likely to do much better ?' 'She has had plenty of chances.' 'And thrown them all away.

And though she looks so young, she is close on thirty.

Of course, with her looks and her fascination she ought to have married well.

I'm sure her friends have tried hard enough for her.
But what can you do with a girl who throws herself at the heads of ineligibles, and when one trots out an unexceptionable PARTI and does one's best to bring them together, goes off at a tangent and lets the whole thing drop through.

You know how it was with....' Lady Tallant enumerted names.
Mrs Gildea acquiesced mournfully.