"Couldn't I stay here?" asked Alex.
Cedric explained that the house would be partially shut up, with only two of the servants left.
"I shouldn't give any trouble—I'd so much rather," Alex urged, unusually persistent.
"My dear, it's out of the question. Not a soul in London—you forget it's August."
"But, Cedric," said Violet, "I don't see why she shouldn't do as she likes. It will be only till Barbara can have her, after all—I suppose Ada will be moved as soon as she's better, and the disinfecting can't take so very long. If she wants to stay here?"
"I do," said Alex, with sudden boldness.
"You don't think you'll be lonely?"
"No, no."
"After all," Violet considered, "it will be very good for Ellen and the tweeny to have somebody to wait upon. I never do like leaving them here on enormous board wages, to do nothing at all—though Cedric will think it's the proper thing to do, because his father did it."
She laughed, and Cedric said, with an air of concession: