Jane and Prudence

by Barbara Pym

‘Ah, the other things,’ said Miss Doggett obscurely. ‘Of course, we never saw anything of those. We knew that it went on, of course—in London, I believe.’ ‘Yes, it seems suitable that things like that should go on in London,’ Jane agreed. ‘It is in better taste somehow that a man should be unfaithful to his wife away from home. Not all of them have the opportunity, of course.’ ‘Poor Constance was left alone a great deal,’ said Miss Doggett. ‘In many ways, of course, Mr. Driver is a very charming man. They say, though, that men only want one thing—that’s the truth of the matter.’ Miss Doggett again looked puzzled; it was as if she had heard that men only wanted one thing, but had forgotten for the moment what it was. ‘Ah, here we are at the junction,’ she said, gathering her things together with an air of relief. ‘You will need to hurry to catch the London train—they don’t allow much time.’