“Of course.”
“And not a weak, effeminate lad, always reading books over the fire.”
“No, but—”
“Let him go on as he is, dear,” said Mrs Burnet gently; “and show him that you take an interest in his sports.”
“Spoil him more still?”
“No: encourage him in his love of natural history.”
“And making the place untidy with his messing about. I say: by the way, have you been at that bottle of acid?”
“I? No, dear.”
“Then he has, for some of his sham experiments.”
“Mother!”