"No, of course not, you goose; can you see Lawrence knee-deep in a field of anything but—well—the very best Patna rice?" They laughed. "No, it's very far from wild oats—I think he's fallen in love with Elizabeth."
"With Elizabeth? But, good Lord! Lawrence hates clever women!"
"I know; he always said he did, and that's what makes it so astounding; and yet I'm sure I'm right, I can see it in his eye."
Richard whistled. "Will she have him, do you think?"
"I don't know. Elizabeth is not an ordinary woman; sometimes I think she's rather strange. I love her, but I don't understand her—she's not very happy, I think."
"Will Lawrence make her happy, Mother?"
She paused. "Well—he'll make her comfortable," she compromised.
They laughed again.
"Poor old Lawrence," he said. "He's the best fellow in the world, but quite the very dullest; I can't think how you produced him, darling."
"I can't think how I produced you!" she retorted.