"I never heard such nonsense," cried Mrs. Penfold. "I used to try that kind of thing—making friends with young men. It was no use at all. They always proposed."
Susan's state of tension—caused by the fact that her Fifth Act had been a veritable shambles—broke up in laughter. She couldn't help kissing her mother.
"You're priceless, darling, you really are. I wouldn't say anything to her about it, if I were you," she added, more seriously. "I shall attack her, of course, some day."
"But she still goes on seeing him," said Mrs. Penfold, pursuing her own bewildered thoughts.
"That's her theory. She sees him—they write to each other—they probably call each other 'Lydia' and 'Harry.'"
"Susy!"
"Why not? Christian names are very common nowadays."
"In my youth if any girl called a young man by his Christian name, it meant she was engaged to him," said Mrs. Penfold with energy, her look clearing. "And if they do call each other 'Lydia' and 'Harry' you may say what you like, Susy, but she will be engaged to him some day—if not now, in the winter, or some time."
"Well, you may be right. Anyway, don't talk to her, mother. Leave her alone!"
Mrs. Penfold sighed deeply.