"He isn't rich because of the war."
"Oh, no! I don't mean that at all. I should never say such a thing, or think it. And as for his knighthood, one knows that honours are given to the men who do the sort of work that he did, while a soldier's work is just taken as a matter of course. You know that it would never occur to me to feel jealousy on that score, which is why I can put it quite plainly. Edmund doesn't feel it either, and he is proud of William's success; he has often said so. But still, here, Edmund ought not to be considered of less account than William. There! I have said it quite plainly, and you mustn't be offended."
"No, I'm not offended; though it makes me rather sad that all that should have to be said, because it is practically the same as William says himself, and tries to act upon. He did so in this very matter of the garden; but see how it has turned out! Edmund takes it as an offence that he should instantly have carried out what he thought were his wishes."
"But did he really mean to give up the garden, Eleanor? I will tell you frankly now, as we have gone so far, that Edmund's idea is that he hoped he would beg him not to. You wrote to me, you know, asking me to influence Edmund to do that."
"Not quite, Cynthia. At least—well—"
"You did, dear; and I should have tried to make the peace in that way, if it hadn't gone so far. I'm afraid you must admit that William acted hastily—I don't say more than that—and if he did expect Edmund to climb down, as Edmund believes—well, that's just exactly the spirit that I've been trying to point out to you is so objectionable to Edmund."
"Oh, it's all so different, Cynthia, from what happened on our side. Climb down! There was no such idea in William's mind. Can't we get it straight? Supposing William apologizes to Edmund for anything that may have displeased him! I believe he would be ready to do that. And you mustn't forget Edmund's first letter to him, which you have acknowledged yourself—and I saw—was very dictatorial, and even offensive, though perhaps it was not meant to be so."
"Offensive! No, I shouldn't quite admit that."
"You say you didn't see it, dear. Among other things, he accused William of vulgarity."
"Vulgarity!" Mrs. Eldridge showed some surprise. "Well, of course that would be rather strong. But—"