Please don’t interfere, Aunt Harriet. I suppose I can be trusted to speak to my mother properly by this time.

MRS. CLOUSTON

You certainly ought to, my dear. You are quite old enough.

HESTER

Very well then. Perhaps you will be good enough not to dictate to me in future. What was it you were discussing, father?

JANET

I’ll tell you, Hester. Father wanted to adopt Johnny. He wanted me to come down here to live altogether.

HESTER

Indeed? Well, father, understand, please, that if Janet comes down here to live I go!

MRS. DE MULLIN