He looked very blank.
“Mind, I am certain that it is only an innocent following of what she has been brought up to;” and as he signed a sort of hurt acquiescence, as if trying to swallow the offence, she added, “When do you go out again?”
“Not till Monday, when we dine at Colonel Ross’s. He is an old friend of Lord Rathforlane.”
“Then I am inclined to let it cool. Sometimes advice that has been resented does its work.”
“You don’t think the interference justifiable?”
“Not from that quarter.”
“And can it be needful to attend to it?”
“My dear Julius, it is not a style of dress I could ever have worn, nor have let my daughters have worn, if I had had any.”
“Conclusive, that!” said Julius, getting up, more really angered with his mother than he had been since his childhood.
However, he conquered himself by the time he had reached the door, and came back to say, “I beg your pardon, mother, I know you would not say so without need.”