"A lively subject. I never saw a girl with a more melancholy expression."
"Well, of course, as yet she hates everything," said Ethel, comprehensively.
"Hates everything! That's a large order," said the young doctor.
They were at dinner—they dined at six every day on account of Ethel's professional engagements; and it was not often that Maurice was at home. When he was at home Ethel knew that he liked to talk to her, so she abandoned her brown studies.
"Well, she hates the fog and the darkness, and the ugly buildings and the solid furniture of Mr. Brooke's house, which dates back to the Georgian era at the very least. I'm sure she hates Sarah. And I shouldn't like to say that she hates Doctor Sophy"—Ethel always called Miss Brooke Doctor Sophy—"but she doesn't like her very much. She is awfully shocked because Doctor Sophy smokes cigarettes."
"Quite right of Miss Lesley Brooke to be shocked," said Maurice, laughing. "However, she need not despair, there is always old Caspar to fall back upon."
pursed up her lips, looked at her brother very hard, and shook her curly head significantly.
"Do you mean to say," cried the doctor, "that she doesn't appreciate her father?"
"I don't think she understands him. And how can she appreciate him if she doesn't understand?"