"I don't follow you, mother."
Martha spoke, with her head held high, in the lazy tone she used to infuriate her father.
Emily said, gently smiling: "There's no use your trying that on me, Martha. You follow me exactly. You know exactly what I mean, and you're to remember what I say."
"You never spoke like this to me before, mother." She would try being hurt.
"I never had occasion to, thank goodness! And I'm not going to speak to you this way again, either." They both heard Bob coming in. "Now go to bed," Emily said, kissing her, "and be a good girl." Martha kissed her in return, without any sign of annoyance, and ran quickly upstairs.
"Where is she?" Bob demanded.
"She's gone to bed."
"Just like her. She crawls out of everything. Did you settle her once for all?"
"I spoke to her about it. I told her we didn't like it."
"You're too easy with her, Emily. I'm going to settle her in the morning. I'm going to lay down the law to her!"