“I’ll do my best.”
“After this do you expect me to allow you to stay in my house?”
“I’ll clear out if you like.”
“I do like.”
“Very well then. Only you lose the right to interfere in the matter, or in my affairs in any way.”
“I never have interfered in your affairs.”
“No. . . . You’ll let me come and see my mother?”
That brought Francis up short. (Frederic knew it would.) Frederic was his mother’s favourite. His absence from the house or presence in it made an extraordinary difference to her mood. Lately she had grown very jealous of Annette. . . . Francis fumbled for some means of withdrawing the decree of banishment, and he said a little pompously:
“The young woman told me that she was only anxious to get away. I must help her to do that.”
“I can’t let you do that.”