"But about these horrible people—what do you want me to do?"
"Do what you like."
"I don't want to know them. I'm thinking what would be best for Anne."
"You needn't worry about Anne. It isn't as if she was your friend."
"But she is if she's yours and Colin's. I mean I want her to be…. I think I'd better call on these Corbett and Hawtrey people and just show them how we care about her. Then cut them dead afterwards if they aren't decent to her. It'll be far more telling than if I began by being rude…. Only, Jerrold, how absurd—I don't know Anne. She hasn't called yet."
"She probably thinks you wouldn't want to know her."
"Do you mean because of what they've said? That's the very reason. Why, she's the only person here I do want to know. I think I fell in love with the sound of her when you first told me about her and how she took care of Colin. We must do everything we can to make up. We must have her here a lot and give her a jolly time."
He looked at her.
"Maisie, you really are rather a darling."
"I'm not. But I think Anne Severn must be…. Shall I go and see her or will you bring her?"