She turned on him a long, luminous look.
'Then you don't understand,' she said. 'My meaning is that I will not have my mother insulted in my house.'
He frowned.
'You make too much of it,' he said.
'You won't do as I ask, then?' she said.
'If you think it over, you will see that it would serve no good purpose.'
She left the window where she was standing, and began to move towards the door.
'I never ask twice,' she said. 'By the way, Mrs. Emsworth has telegraphed to know whether she may come over to lunch to-morrow. She is staying at Midhurst.'
'Please make some excuse,' said Bertie quickly; 'I do not wish her to come here.'
'Why not?'