"I'm sure I'm as fond of her as if she were my own daughter."
"No doubt."
"Though, of course, dearly as I love her, I am never foolishly indulgent. So many girls to-day are spoiled by foolish indulgence."
"True."
"My great wish, Lord Hunstanton, is one day to see her happily married to some good man."
His lordship closed the door behind Mrs. Waddington and stood for some moments in profound thought. He may have been wondering what was the earliest he could expect a cocktail, or he may have been musing on some deeper subject—if there is a deeper subject.
2
Mrs. Waddington navigated upstairs, and paused before a door near the second landing.
"Molly!"
"Yes, mother?"