“Take my word for it, mother, she likes to go her own way.”
“My dear, you can’t know about a young girl, and I am so afraid she thinks we may consider her to be in a sort of derogatory position here. I do wish you would let me explain to her, poor thing, that we are delighted to have her, and that she can do just as she likes if it’s any amusement to her. I was afraid you might be vexed about the trees, but if you and your father are satisfied, it is all quite right.”
Harry laughed.
“Oh, she doesn’t in the least suppose she’s doing anything derogatory. Things are changed in these days, mother, and Miss Hamilton wants you to understand that her being here is a simple matter of business.” Mrs Hilton lifted her hands helplessly.
“My dear Harry, it can’t be! Of course if the poor girl is so sadly poor—”
“She isn’t.”
”—Or if she has taken it into her head to amuse herself.”
“Don’t let her hear you!”
“One would do everything one possibly could. But you can’t expect me to have a pretty young creature like that here, and not try to make it pleasant for her, and we all know what girls like, and how pleased they are with attention, poor things! I really think, Harry, she ought not to be left so much alone.”
He dug his hands into his hair, and laughed again—not quite naturally.