"Why--when could I be ready? Why--Sydney, I haven't thought; what a question to spring on one; as though--as though one could decide upon a thing like that, without a moment's notice."
"I have been talking to Draycott, and he says that if we were to go by the next boat----"
"The next boat!"
She seemed to be springing out of her shoes.
"And were to stay in England, say, a year----"
"Stay in England--say, a year!"
"Everything would go on all right here, and he'd look after things. The question is, could you and the children be ready for the next boat?"
"When does it go?"
"In ten days. I don't want to hustle you; if you want time for consideration--why, take it."
"Of course I don't want time for consideration, you absurd creature; of course we can be ready."