[He wants to say something about the old houses—how could anyone run them without servants? who would tend to a lord's daily needs, of which he has no time nor reason to attend to themselves? And who do you send to doors with your cards, or cajole for extra jam with tea?
Instead he hesitates for a moment, and confesses,] It is difficult to imagine, but I suppose that is the way of things. To change, I mean. [Really, it's the hit to middle class families that surprises him. The lower classes have never had servants, sure: that's why they're the lower classes. But the up-and-coming families of the middle class always seem to like to keep at least one or two. It's so weird to think they wouldn't!]
[Oh, well. He's sure his descendants will live in the appropriate manner for heirs to their line, whatever that is in the 21st century.]
no subject
Instead he hesitates for a moment, and confesses,] It is difficult to imagine, but I suppose that is the way of things. To change, I mean. [Really, it's the hit to middle class families that surprises him. The lower classes have never had servants, sure: that's why they're the lower classes. But the up-and-coming families of the middle class always seem to like to keep at least one or two. It's so weird to think they wouldn't!]
[Oh, well. He's sure his descendants will live in the appropriate manner for heirs to their line, whatever that is in the 21st century.]