“That’s too charming,” he interrupted before she could finish the dreaded sentence.
The judge said good-night warmly to his guest and less warmly to his daughter, adding, before the doors were securely closed, that Lane seemed a sensible, steady, decent young fellow.
Ivy offered smiling congratulations.
“Eric, I thought you were never coming!,” she whispered. “My dear, you were wonderful! Mother’s in love with you! And you could hear what a success you’d been with father. Was it a very terrible evening? I didn’t notice anything except that you were there; I couldn’t see any one else. I suppose father was disapproving of me, as usual....”
She stopped speaking, as the front door was opened for them.
“We must get things right with your people somehow,” said Eric reflectively. “I think it’s awful when children don’t get on well with their parents.”
“But, my dear, is it my fault? I don’t believe father ever cared for me much, but he really hates me now.”
“If he does, it’s because he was very fond of you before... Nature’s substitute....”
Ivy slipped her arm through his and walked for some moments in silence. A taxi was on the rank by Gloucester Road Station, and they got into it.
“There’s only one substitute for love,” she whispered. “A greater love... Isn’t that true?”