‘Well, he really likes playing by himself best,’ she said, looking faintly troubled. ‘He’s such a quiet queer little boy.’
‘Well, that’s much better for him than always having to be amused, isn’t it?’
‘Of course it is!’ She cheered up. ‘He—I s’pose it’s him being an only child and me being fairly busy—and then I do think it’s much better for a child to learn to play by himself, don’t you?’ She echoed Judith’s words complacently, as if they sprang from her own original and profound conviction.
After a pause she went on reflectively:
‘That governess of his is a very strict person. She says she must have entire charge of him.’
‘She’s new, isn’t she?’
‘Quite new.’ Then gravely, like a child pretending to be grown up: ‘I thought perhaps I might sack her. I’m not altogether satisfied with her.’
She seemed to be waiting to be encouraged in her desperate plan.
‘But why, Mariella?’
She hesitated, flushing.