"I don't know; but she does, and so mortifies and grieves me."
"Have you always taken care to show sympathy with her in her pursuits, her friends, and the like?"
"Perhaps not all I might."
"I fancy this interest is all that is wanting. You might try and see. By the bye, have you any absorbing pursuit or friendship yourself?"
"Yes, I have many."
"Perhaps, then, you have unconsciously weaned the child from you by only half listening to what she has had to say about hers."
"Did you observe that she informed me that she was going to have friends to lunch, instead of asking permission?"
"Certainly."
"And what should you do in such a case? Reason with her?"
"No; I should simply provide no entertainment. As things stand, however, giving her warning to that effect."