'When the women of a family acquit a woman it goes for something,' said Annaple. 'That's not original, my dear, I heard old Lady Grosmede say so to Janet when she was deliberating over the invitation, "For a good deal more than Mr. Mark's, at any rate.'"
'Mark is very fond of her—the mother, I mean. He says when he was a little fellow her loss was worse to him than even our mother's.'
'Do you remember the catastrophe?'
'Not a bit. Only when she is petting Basil it strikes me that I have heard the tones before. I only remember the time of misery under the crosspatches grandmamma got for us.'
'Well, it was a splendid cutting of his own throat in Mark,' said Annaple, 'so it ought to turn out well.'
'I don't know how it is to turn out for Mark,' answered May. 'Oh, here he comes!'
'Will you come into this set, Annaple?' he asked. 'They want another couple,' and, as she accepted, 'How do you get on with May's double?'
'I pity May for having such a double.'
'Don't encourage her by misplaced pity.'
'It's abominable altogether! I want to fly at somebody!'