“Indeed, I will. He’ll be only too glad. He doesn’t much like being here, this time. You saw how Ford behaved to him?”
“I did.”
“I could wring his beastly neck,” said Mrs. Aviolet violently.
“Will you forgive me if I tell you that you make that desire a great deal too evident? I’ve known Ford Aviolet for years, and I know him for a bully. Every time he sees that he’s hurt you, and angered you, it gives him a sense of power. And so he’ll go on doing it.”
“He can only touch me through Cecil.”
“He knows that well enough.”
“Why on earth haven’t he and Diana got any children? It’s absurd of them,” declared Rose with vehemence.
“I suppose it’s a disappointment to everyone.”
“Of course it is! They don’t want Cecil to have Squires, and I’m sure I don’t want him to have it. But he’ll have to, if Diana can’t pull herself together.”
Rose had spoken with her usual energy, and Mrs. Ford Aviolet, entering at the moment, said pleasantly: