"I want a bit of talk with you, Frank," Mrs. Grey took an opportunity to whisper on the way to the dinner-table.
"All right," he replied. "Shall it be in the library, after the rest have gone to bed? Or right after dinner, in your dressing-room?"
"Right after dinner," she replied; and as soon as the meal was over, they disappeared.
"Now for my curtain-lecture," he said, as they seated themselves by the fire.
"I want to speak a word for your poor Lily," she said. "You began by loving her extravagantly, and educated her into expecting this sort of thing could last; now you are transferring your attentions to Gabrielle, in a way that must hurt your wife."
"Gabrielle has grown charming," he replied, "and it is delightful to have her again."
"That may be; but you may depend upon it, I understand my sex better than you do, and that no woman wants to see a girl put into the place once hers, even though the girl is her own child."
"Lily never complains of it."
"No; but she droops under it."