"She said," Tora went on, speaking with emphasis, "that she would ask you."
Dale made a little gesture of protest, partly against Nellie's reported saying, more against the reporter's inquiring gaze. He began to be astonished at the interest he was so unfortunate as to inspire in his affairs.
"I shall advise her to go," he said. "I think a change will be good for her."
"I incline to think so too," said Tora with sudden coldness; "but I thought you might not like to part with her."
"Mount Pleasant is not inaccessible," responded Dale with equal coldness. Returning to the house, he found Nellie gone, the company dispersed, and Mrs. Hodge in his smoking room, apparently expecting him.
"Well, mother," he said,—he had used to call her "mother" when he was always running in and out of her house in London,—"Nellie looks quite blooming."
"She's mending nicely."
"I hear she's to go to the Smiths'."
"Well, I thought of taking her to Brighton."