“No, I’m sure he didn’t.”
“Thank goodness for that.”
“Yes indeed! It was perfectly horrible. Following me round on his knees and shouting for me to love him! Perfectly horrible!”
“Well,” said the matron. “You never know what men will do till you’ve known them. And then you need be surprised at nothing, nothing. I’m surprised at nothing they do—”
“I must say,” said Alvina, “I was surprised. Very unpleasantly.”
“But you accepted him—”
“Anything to quieten him—like a hysterical child.”
“Yes, but I’m not sure you haven’t taken a very risky way of quietening him, giving him what he wanted—”
“I think,” said Alvina, “I can look after myself. I may be moved any day now.”
“Well—!” said the matron. “He may prevent your getting moved, you know. He’s on the board. And if he says you are indispensable—”