"Family fortunes first, for, of course, the other things have to wait. What has happened?"
"My mother has entered a second time into the matrimonial state. Her husband has ample means, so the family fortunes don't even have to be patched. When they get ragged they can be thrown away."
"How perfectly lovely. That is the last solution we should have dreamed of, isn't it?"
His heart leaped at that use of the first person plural. "I certainly didn't expect it," he said.
"And you don't feel sorry? Not a bit?"
"Not at all. I am very glad if my mother is happy. He isn't exactly the kind of man I should have selected as a veritable parent, but since my mother is satisfied I have nothing to say."
"What is he?"
"A wealthy brewer, or pork-packer or something of the kind."
"You have met him?"
"Yes. He is large, florid and expansive in manner."