“Why don’t you ever wear your sables?” she asked irrelevantly.

“My sables?” said Regina. “Oh, I don’t like to wear them every day.”

“But when you are going to town, among smart West-End physicians—that doesn’t mean every day. I don’t suggest that you should put them on to go up the village in. Don’t you like them?”

“Oh, yes, no woman in the world would dislike them.”

“That’s what I thought. You know, mother dear, you’re cooking up something about daddy.”

“No, I would rather not discuss it with you, my darling.”

“Sometimes,” said Julia, still smoothing the stole up and down, “sometimes it’s better to get it off your chest.”

“What a very vulgar remark!” said Regina.

“Yes, perhaps, but very practical. Now, I’ve been watching you.”

“I wish you wouldn’t,” said Regina.