Edwin protested with a movement of impatience—
“What on earth for? He’s walking about all right.”
They had all been surreptitiously watching Darius from behind the curtains.
“Doesn’t seem to be much the matter with him now! That I must say!” agreed Albert, turning from the window.
Edwin perceived that his brother-in-law was ready to execute one of those changes of front which lent variety to his positiveness, and he addressed himself particularly to Albert, with the persuasive tone and gesture of a man to another man in a company of women—
“Of course there doesn’t! No doubt he was upset last night. But he’s getting over it. You don’t think there’s anything in it, do you, Maggie?”
“I don’t,” said Maggie calmly.
These two words had a great effect.
“Of course if we’re going to listen to every tale that’s flying about a potbank,” said Edwin.
“You’re right there, Teddy!” the brother-in-law heartily concurred. “But Clary thought we’d better—”