"That depends mainly on the woman, I fancy," said Montrose dryly. "A wife can make her husband whatever she chooses."
"A silk purse out of a sow's ear," retorted Miss Enistor saucily. "But Douglas and I understand one another, nurse, and there will be no cause for quarrels."
"I wish I could say the same about my lad and the girl he has set his heart on marrying," sighed Dame Trevel, laying down her knitting and removing her spectacles. "It's more her fault than his, though. Rose is a flighty piece."
"She won't listen to reason," said Alice, shaking her head wisely.
"Does any woman ever listen to reason?" inquired Montrose with a shrug.
"From a man she won't; but from a woman she will. Don't be cynical. But I have talked to Rose without success," ended Alice, turning to her nurse.
"So have I, my dearie, and then she told me to mind my own business; as if it wasn't my business to see that my lad got a decent wife."
"There's no real harm in Rose," cried Alice hastily.
"I'm not saying there is. But why she should take jewels from that foreign gentleman and make Job wild, I don't understand."