“Oh, for Heaven’s sake don’t begin to praise her,” said Ethel, who came up at that moment. “When we think of all that she has made us endure—and now the last thing she has done is this—she has stolen our mother’s love. It’s a whole month since we saw our dear mother, and she thinks of no one but Marcia; but when Marcia gives the word, forsooth, then we are brought back—not by your leave, or anything else, but just when Marcia wishes it.”
“That’s nonsense,” said Jim. “You are in a bit of a temper, I think. But, come; let’s have some fun while we may.”
The news that they were all to go back was broken to the different members of the Carter family, who expressed their regret in different ways and different degrees. Not one of them, however, suggested, as both Molly and Ethel hoped, that it was absolutely and completely impossible for them to spare their beloved Aldworths. On the contrary, Clara said that sorry as they were to part, it was in some ways a little convenient, as their friends the Tollemaches were coming to spend a fortnight or three weeks with them, and the Mortimers were also to be guests at Court Prospect.
“We shouldn’t have room for you all with so many other people, so it is just as well that you are going, for it is never agreeable to have to ask one’s friends to leave,” said Clara in her blunt fashion.
“But all the same, we’ll miss you very much,” said Mabel.
“For my part,” cried Annie, “I’m sorry enough to lose you two girls, but I’m rather glad as far as Penelope is concerned. She has run perfectly wild since that Nesta of yours is here. They’re always squabbling and fighting over that wretched, commonplace girl, Flossie Griffiths. I asked father about her, and he said that her people were quite common and not worth cultivating.”
“Then you only care for people worth cultivating. I wonder you like us,” said Ethel, with much sarcasm in her tone.
“Oh, you’re the daughters of a professional man,” said Mabel.
“And if we were not?”
Mabel laughed.