“Much better, dear Uncle George!... Ever so much better ... it’s only a question of will power.”
She left him on a small lawn and went through an opening in the box hedge. William could hear her talking to some people on the other side.
“He’s come! Uncle George’s come!” she said in a penetrating whisper.
“Oh, dear!” said another voice. “He’s so trying! What shall we do?”
“He’s wealthy. Anyway we may as well try to placate him a bit.”
“Hush! He’ll hear you.”
“Oh, no, he’s been as deaf as a post for years.”
“How did you meet him, Frederica, darling?”
“I met him quite by accident,” said Frederica darling in her shrill and cheerful voice. “He was being brought here by a boy.”
“And did you recognise him? It’s ten years since you saw him last.”