"It's all right," she said presently. "After all, if there is anything wrong with the child, I'd rather Hugh didn't think it came from him."
She had now another fear. It made her very tender to Brodrick when, coming to him in the drawing-room after their guests had departed, she found him communing earnestly with Gertrude. A look passed between them as she entered.
"Well, what are you two putting your heads together about?" she said.
Gertrude's head drew back as if a charge had been brought against it.
"Well," said Brodrick, "it was about the child. Something must be done. You can't go on like this."
She seated herself. Her very silence implied that she was all attention.
"It's bad for him and it's bad for you."
"What's bad for him?"
"The way you've given yourself up to him. There's no moderation about your methods."
"If there had been," said she, "he wouldn't be alive now."