She reflected a trifle anxiously. "You've heard then?"
"Heard—?"
"His father has cut down Julian's income."
No, Napier hadn't heard that, but he wasn't surprised. Nan looked at him, indignant.
"You aren't surprised? You take it as a matter of course!" She turned away her head as she said, "Oh! I wish I could just once see his mother—" She stopped short. After considering an instant, "You couldn't manage it, I suppose?"
No, that wasn't a thing Napier could manage. He positively welcomed the exclamation from Lady McIntyre which cut the colloquy short.
"Another—upon my word!" An envelope fluttered to the waste-paper basket. She held an open paper in her hand.
"Another what, mum?" Madge left Julian to lean over her mother's shoulder. "Oh!" One glance was enough for Madge. She turned away. But one glance didn't suffice for Lady McIntyre. "It's too, too much!" She went over to Sir William, who had withdrawn with his letters to the window. They stood talking in lowered voices.
Nan's inquiring look met Madge's offhand explanation: "Another of Greta's bills. That makes £160, just for furs."
"Oh!" Nan stood up, then, in an access of shyness, "Just go and ask your mother to let me have it."