What is the meaning of a London father and——
Wilfrid Brudenell.
I’ll tell you——
Leslie.
No, no—you tell things so roughly. My London Father is a name the school-girls gave you, Mr. Cheal, because you are my guardian in London and look after me. And when Mr. Murray began to come down to Helmstead about once a month to see that I was happy, they set about to invent some title for him too. And as I couldn’t have two fathers and I already had a real brother they called Mr. Murray my London Mother, because he was so thoughtful and tender, just as my school-fellows told me their mothers are.
Mr. Cheal.
H’m! Well, my dear, all that is very nice for school-girls, but it is what practical people call stuff and nonsense. I’ll go and get my hat.
[He goes out.]
Leslie.
Mr. Cheal is angry.