“Auntie! A parricide?”
“Don’t be absurd, Isabel. I said a fratricide.”
“Aunt, what a dreadful idea! Oh, for shame!”
“Dreadful enough, my dear, and I’m sure I sincerely hope there never will be anything of the kind, but Cain never could have looked at Abel worse than Alison did at Neil only yesterday.”
“Aunt!”
“Oh, it’s true, my dear. It sent a cold chill all down my back; and ever since I’ve felt quite a presentiment of coming evil. I do hope they will not quarrel, and really I think it would be better if Neil went back to town.”
“Aunt, dear, such ideas are too shocking. Just as if Neil would be likely to degrade himself by quarrelling with Alison. I am sure he has too much self-respect.”
“Ah, young inexperience!” cried Aunt Anne pityingly. “Young men forget all their self-respect when they have been blinded by such a siren as that nurse.”
“Oh, Aunt, you ought not to speak of nurse like that.”
“You think so, my dear; I do not.”