Oh, setting from what quarter this? She said, “They’re better—miles and miles.”
He got up. “Well, that’s all right. If you have noticed nothing, that’s all right.”
“But, Harry. I am at a loss, dear. Of course it’s all right. But what have you noticed, think you’ve noticed?”
He was standing before her, his back against the mantelpiece, looking down at her. “Just that—not quite like other children.”
“But in what way?”
“It’s hard to say, old girl. If you’ve not noticed it, harder still. Not quite so childish as at their age I seem to remember myself with my brothers and sisters being childish. A kind of—reserve. A kind of—self-contained.”
She shook her head, “No, no.”
“You think it’s fancy?”
“I’m sure it is.”
He was silent a moment. “It’s rather worried me. And of course now—If you are going to be away—”