"What young woman?"
"That Miss—"
Ranny's mother supplied his loss. "Miss Dymond."
"What's she got to do with it?" said Ranny.
"I'm asking you. What has she?"
"Nothing. You can keep her out of it."
"That's what I should advise you to do, my boy."
Ranny dropped his defiance and sank his flushed forehead. "I have kept her out of it." His voice was grave and very low.
"Not if she's there. Taking everything upon her and looking after your children."
"What harm's she doing looking after them?"