‘From your mother first. But am I not to be Dudley?’
‘She spoke to you? She told you?’
‘And yesterday your father—a second time.’
Some remainder of suspicion in the dealing with members of this family, urged Dudley to say: ‘I understood from them, you were not?... that you were quite...?’
‘I have heard: I have guessed: it was recently—this morning, as it happened. I wish to go to my mother to-day. I shall go to her to-morrow.’
‘I might offer to conduct you-now!’
‘You are kind; I have Skepsey.’ She relieved the situation of its cold-toned strain in adding: ‘He is a host.’
‘But I may come?—now! Have I not the right? You do not deny it me?’
‘You are very generous.’
‘I claim the right, then. Always. And subsequently, soon after, my mother hopes to welcome you at Cronidge. She will be glad to hear of your naming of a day. My father bids me... he and all our family.’