“And what in the world should I do with a splendid wife?” laughing frankly into her face—“what an appalling possession! Lorry, old girl, I’ve got a splendid woman pal, and that’s good enough for me. If I ever want a wife you shall have the privilege of finding me one: but it won’t be until I am old and gouty, and then she had better be a hospital nurse, inured to irritability.”
“You are quite hopeless,” shaking her head at him, “but I don’t particularly want to lose you as a friend, unless it is for Hal; so we’ll say no more.”
“Sensible woman! And now I must really be off. I like your friends, Lorry. They’re very fresh. And of course Hermon is tremendous. You haven’t overdrawn him at all. Only to be careful. Remember the burnt child. A man like that ought to be made to wear a mask and hideous garments, for the protection of susceptible females.”
“He would need to speak through a grating trumpet as well.”
“Yes, I suppose he would. Even I can hear the attraction in his voice. It will be splendid when he begins to feel his feet in the law courts. We’ll make a celebrity of him, shall we—just for the interest of it. But it’s to be only a hobby, Lorraine, no entanglements, mind”—and he laughed his low, pleasant laught.
“Very well, call it a hobby, or what you like—only keep him in mind now, Flip. I’ve got him into an ambitious spirit that means everything, if there is enough fuel at the beginning to keep it alight until it is a glowing pile quite capable of burning gaily alone.”
“Right you are. I like him. You fan the flame, and I’ll rake up the fuel. I’ll speak to Hodson about him tomorrow. He’s always ready to lend a hand to a promising junior.”
When they had all gone, Lorraine lingered a few moments by her fireside.
“A hobby!” she breathed; “yes, why not? Man-making is almost equal to man-bearing. I have no son to spur up the Olympian heights; but what might I not do for Alymer, if… if—”
She placed her hands on the mantelshelf, and leaned her forehead down on them.