"I think ... perhaps ... yes— I think you'd better not let him come here so often, honey."
Her tone pleaded for indulgence, but was also firm with conviction. Sophy was still rather cold in manner.
"You mean you think I'd better sacrifice a beautiful, harmless friendship to the whim of a sour old woman?" asked she.
"I think you'd better not give that 'sour old woman' the least scrimption of cause to gossip about you," she replied.
"You'd have me mould my life on Lady Wychcote's ideas?"
Susan put her hand very lovingly on the dark head.
"Now, lamb ... don't be huffy with your old Sue," she said. "I only want you to be very, very careful how you cross that old tyrant's prejudices.... I've one of the strongest feelings I ever had in my life that you'd regret it."
Sophy looked at her with grey eyes dark and defiant.
"Sue...." she said, "I'll never, never, never give up one atom of my friendship with Marco Amaldi for anybody or anything."