“I am very, very fond of your son, James,” she said. “How proud you must be to have such a son.”
He eyed her narrowly. How much of the horrid story did she know? How much of it had John Desmond told to his wife?
“I am surprised at your liking him, Yvonne. He is what I'd call a difficult young man.”
“I haven't found him difficult.”
“Morbid and unresponsive.”
“Not by nature, however. There is a joyousness, a light-heartedness in his character that has never got beyond the surface until now, James.”
“Until now?”
“Yes. And you talk of sending him away. Why?”
“He has wanted to go abroad for years. This is a convenient time for him to go.”
“But I am quite sure he will not care to go at present—not for a while, at least.”