Turner leant back in his chair and crossed his legs. "Precisely, that's the real point," he agreed.
"Well, naturally, I hope to persuade Mr Kenyon to sanction the engagement," Arthur said.
"Why?" snapped Miss Kenyon.
"Friendship for Hubert," Arthur said.
"I wasn't aware that you and he were such great friends," was Miss Kenyon's criticism of that explanation.
"Oh, well, pretty fair," Arthur compromised. "Anyhow, I'll be glad to help him if I can."
"I can't imagine that anything you could say to my father would carry the least weight," Miss Kenyon said dryly.
"Perhaps not," Arthur agreed. "No harm in trying, though, is there?"
"I think that's quite true, you know, Esther," Mrs Kenyon put in, "and it would be rather a relief if—that is, I hope, for Hubert's sake at all events, something can be done to smooth things over."
Miss Kenyon turned from her sister-in-law with a slight suggestion of contempt. "Do you know this girl, Dorothy Martin?" she asked, looking at her brother.