“Yes?” said Lady Ingleton.
“Jimmy came out for the Easter holidays. It was absurd, because they’re so short, but I had to see him, and I couldn’t very well go to England. Well, Jimmy’s taken a violent dislike to Mr. Leith.”
“I thought Jimmy was very fond of him.”
“He was devoted to him, but now he can’t bear him. In fact, Jimmy won’t have anything to do with Dion Leith. I suppose—boys of that age are often very sharp—I suppose he sees the deterioration in Mr. Leith and it disgusts him.”
“Deterioration!” said Lady Ingleton, leaning forward, and speaking more impulsively than before.
“Yes. It is heart-rending.”
“Really!”
“And it makes things difficult for me.”
“I’m sorry for that.”
There was a moment of silence; then, as Mrs. Clarke did not speak, but sat still wrapped in a haggard immobility, Lady Ingleton said: