"She's had rather a rough time on the whole—losing her mother and father, and being brought up by an aunt with whom she is obviously not in sympathy——"
"Why, from what she's told me, I don't think she's had a particularly rough time," Isobel interrupted.
"She makes light of it, no doubt," Pamela replied. "But all the same she's not had a particularly happy time, and I would like her to be happy while she is here with us, wouldn't you?"
"Why, of course," agreed Isobel. "Why shouldn't she?"
"She tries to put her unhappy life behind her, but—well, you know, Isobel, you keep reminding her of it!"
"I keep reminding her! What do you mean?"
"I found her crying last night because you kept worrying her with questions," said Pamela bluntly.
Isobel flushed.
"Good gracious! How ridiculous! But I only ask her ordinary questions. Why should she mind that?"
"They're questions about the past unhappy life with her aunt—a time she wants to forget. You keep reviving it. And if she wants to forget—we have no right to force her to remember, have we?"