“Oh, isn’t that dreadful?”
“It’s all dreadful, but we must consider him.”
The girl shook back her fuzzy hair.
“It does seem rather a case of ‘coldly received.’ But father’s always been shut up in himself. He can’t expect us suddenly to slobber over him. If he’s had a horrible time, so have we.”
“Well, shall I go?”
“Yes, take him the coffee. Be quick, my dear boy; and be nice to him!”
The son said with youthful grimness: “Oh, I’ll be nice!” and went.
“Mother, don’t look like that!”
“How should I look? Smiling?”