Brodrick rose heavily to greet his sister. There was a certain consolation in her presence, since it had relieved him of Gertrude's. Sophy, by way of prelude, inquired about Brodrick and the children and the house, then paused to attack her theme.
"When's Jane coming back?" said she.
"I don't know," said Brodrick.
"She's been away two months."
"Seven weeks," said Brodrick.
"Isn't it about time she did come back?"
"She's the best judge of that," said Brodrick.
Sophy's face was extraordinarily clear-eyed and candid as it turned on him.
"George Tanqueray's at Chagford."
"How do you know?" (He really wondered.)