“I’ll do your hair for you, darling!” she said, and Claudine willingly relinquished the brush to her.
“I am some use to you, aren’t I, Mother?”
“I don’t know what I should have done without you, dear!”
“‘Should have done!’ Then you don’t need me now?”
“You know how dearly I love to have you with me, but—”
“But I ought to go home? I’m not useful any more, and I’m not wanted—”
“Don’t be so unreasonable, my dear! It’s only that I think it unfair to Alfred—”
“Why?” she demanded, impatiently.
“You shouldn’t stay away from him.”
“Why not? He’s always saying he wants me to feel free. He certainly shouldn’t object to my taking a little holiday.”