“Yes, that was it; or something to that effect. Perhaps I should not have been quite so definite. Yes, that was it. It has seemed to me that Rose is a girl who would readily be captured by—well, by a man who had a chance to show force of character, and this very thing has happened. You know, dear, in the ordinary chances of life these opportunities are rare, but—well, you understand.”
She did; and also she had a suspicion that this bit of social reflection was somebody else’s wisdom.
“Has Anne mentioned the matter?”
“I did say something to her about it yesterday—no, this morning.”
“I would much rather, Archie, when you want to discuss the children, that you come to me first.”
Clearly he had brought this on himself. She went on:
“Anne is ready enough to interfere without being given an excuse, and now, I suppose— She has not talked to Rose, I trust?”
“No, my dear. She has not and never will. That would be very unlike Anne.”
“I don’t know. One never knows what to expect.”
“But you do now. Have you noticed of late how thin Anne looks? I sometimes think she will trouble none of us very long.”