“Mother thinks I had better look for a house,” he said. “Rose asked mother to attend to the matter, but she seems to be worn out, and unfit for the work.”
“Is it to be furnished or unfurnished?” asked Adriana.
“Furnished, if possible. And it must be very large and handsome. They are going to build, but in the meantime they must rent. Can you not look for what is required, Yanna? Mother came to ask you to help her this morning, but she appears to have had but scant welcome in my house.”
“I am not able to endure the fatigue of house-hunting, Harry; and baby is very poorly and cross. He has a high fever to-night.”
“Mother told me I would find you unwilling to do anything.”
“She did not ask me.”
“She had no opportunity. You left the room.”
“If she told you so much, Harry, I hope she was honest enough to tell you why I left the room.”
“Well, Yanna, if you will listen to idle reports, and 206 then fret mother about them, you cannot expect her to join you in complaints against me and my conduct. She at least trusts me!” Then Harry, with a magnificent air of being wrongly accused, rose; and Adriana saw that he was about to leave the room.
“Harry,” she cried, “was that really what mother told you? How could she? How could she?”