“Doctor Livingstone! She'd be throwing herself away!”
“Yes, but she's like that. I mean, she isn't ambitious. We've always expected her to throw herself away; at least I have.”
A half hour later Leslie, upstairs, leaned over the railing to see if there were any indications of departure. The door was open, and Mrs. Sayre evidently about to take her leave. She was saying:
“It's very close to my heart, Nina dear, and I know you will be tactful. I haven't stressed the material advantages, but you might point them out to her.”
A few moments later Leslie came downstairs. Nina was sitting alone, thinking, with a not entirely pleasant look of calculation on her face.
“Well?” he said. “What were you two plotting?”
“Plotting? Nothing, of course.”
He looked down at her. “Now see here, old girl,” he said, “you keep your hands off Elizabeth's affairs. If I know anything she's making a damn good choice, and don't you forget it.”