“We are none of us worthy of you, my dear. In the end you’ll find yourself well rid of people like us.” Violet’s tone had a note of pain that for her was something new. Life had not been exactly a bed of roses lately. She had discovered, a little late in the day perhaps, that she had a conscience. A share of the hurt she was inflicting had to be borne by herself.
When Mame was able to speak she said: “You’d have been good enough for me. I like you all. You are some of the nicest folks I’ve met.” The whimsical frankness of this good child brought back the laugh, if not too readily, to the worldly wise Violet. What a piece of luck, they both had a sense of humour!
“We owe you more than perhaps you realise.” Violet did not find the words easy, but they had to be said. “You showed how terribly dangerous was delay as far as that brother of mine is concerned. He might have been snapped up by some pretty little prowler, with a nice taste in dicky birds, who short of death and destruction could never have been persuaded to unclasp her claws.”
“That’s so,” assented Mame. “And you’re wise to have hustled on that marriage.” And then whimsically, to ease the aching of her heart: “Some other little cat might have got that bird.”
She was so real and so true, this brave child, that Violet felt she would like to have taken her in her arms and hugged her. “My mother and I both realise that you have done a big thing. She has sent you all sorts of kind messages. We are going to see that Gwendolen plays the game so far as you are concerned. And no matter how long you stay over here you will always have friends.”
“Gwendolen will make him a good wife.”
“Yes, she will. She is a very sensible girl, with a strong will. I am sure she will keep him on the rails. And she really cares for him.”
“Perhaps he’ll get to care for her after a while.”
“I think he may. Gwendolen is a very good sort. But I’m afraid Bill’s feelings don’t run deep.” And the note of pain crept again into the voice of his sister.