I praised some detail that Jevons had devised (not that there was much detail; it was all extremely simple). And I believe she saw criticism of Jimmy in that.
"I know it looks as if he cared a lot about this sort of thing. And I daresay you think it's silly of him. But he doesn't really care."
"It certainly looks," I said, "as if he cared about something."
"It's me he cares about," she said.
"And do you care about—this sort of thing, Viola?"
"I care about his caring. But I was every bit as happy in that little four-roomed house, if that's what you mean."
"Aren't you glad to have more room to move about in?"
"I'm glad to have room for Daddy and Mummy when they come to stay."
It was as if she had said, "If you think I'm glad to have room to get away from him you're mistaken."
And there was another impression that she gave me. It was also as if she wanted to warn me not to form the habit of coming to see her when she was alone. I should gain nothing by it. If I insisted on seeing her alone I should get Jimmy, Jimmy, all the time.