I named them to him as I had named them to others. First that Hugh should become independent.
He repeated his short, hard laugh.
"I don't believe you had better bank on that."
"Perhaps not," I admitted. "But I've another string to my bow. His family may come and ask me."
He almost shouted.
"Never!"
It was the tone they all took, and which especially enraged me. I kept my voice steady, however, as I said, "That remains to be seen."
"It doesn't remain to be seen, because I can tell you now that they won't."
"And I can tell you now that they will," I said, with an assurance that, on the surface at least, was quite as strong as his own.
He laughed again, more shortly, more hardly.