"My dear Gwenda, don't glare at me like that. I'm not saying things and I'm not thinking them. I don't know what you're thinking. If you weren't so nervy you'd own that I've always been decent to you. I'm sure I have been. I've always stood up for you. I've always wanted to have you here——"
"And why shouldn't you?"
Mary blinked. She had seen her blunder.
"I never said you weren't decent to me, Molly."
"You behave as if I weren't."
"How am I to behave?"
"I know it's difficult," said Mary. The memory of her blunder rankled.
"Are you offended because Steven hasn't been to see you?"
"My dear Molly——"
Mary ignored her look of weary tolerance.