Marie replied with a look of steel: "I don't think so at all, mother. And men always think that women ought not to have the handling of too much money, you know."
"Don't I know!" said Grannie, with unabated venom.
"Osborn has left me plenty. It's far more than I managed on before."
"I'm glad of that, duck."
"Directly Osborn had gone I suddenly thought—and I got in a charwoman. She's there now. It did seem queer."
"Oh, that's good, my love. I am glad of that. Now you'll rest yourself and get your looks back, and I shall be round a great deal to help you with the children."
"I want to ask you to do something for me to-day, mother."
"Certainly, my love. Just name it."
"I—I want a free day. To go into town and lunch and walk about by myself; no household shopping to do; no time to keep; no cooking to hurry back for...."
"What a funny idea, duck!" replied Grannie, still carefully keeping up the attitude of old dunderhead; "but I'm sure I'll be only too delighted to go back home with you, and take the children out on the Heath this afternoon. And I'll put them to bed, too. You'll help me with these very little children, won't you, Georgie?"