"My mother—" he began.
"To be sure, your mother has first claim. To say nothing of another."
He coloured. Mary was looking at him with kind interest. Mrs. Morres sent him a quick glance—then looked away again.
"To be sure, you must go, Sir Robin," she said, in a serious voice. "I was only jesting. Ah! here we are! So it is good-bye."
"Au revoir," he corrected.
"Well, au revoir. I hope you'll have a very happy time at Lugano. But you are sure to."
A moment later they had gone off in their cab, and he was feeling the blank of their absence.