‘You know you laughed at mother for saying that!’
‘Did I? Roger, your mother thinks that I have an unfortunate manner with you.’
The magnanimous Roger says, ‘Oh, I don’t know. It’s just the father-and-son complication.’
‘That is really all it is. But she thinks I should show my affection for you more openly.’
Roger wriggles again. Earnestly, ‘I wouldn’t do that.’ Nicely, ‘Of course for this once—but in a general way I wouldn’t do that. We know, you and I.’
‘As long as we know, it’s no one else’s affair, is it?’
‘That’s the ticket, father.’
‘Still——’ It is to be feared that Mr. Torrance is now taking advantage of his superior slyness. ‘Still, before your mother—to please her—eh?’
Faltering, ‘I suppose it would.’
‘Well, what do you say?’