"Do you think they'd trust me?" I asked. From an early age my brother has regarded me as the Black Sheep of an otherwise irreproachable family of two.
"They'd jump at it!" Irreverently I tried to visualise Brian jumping. "The Rodens wanted me to go to them, but it wouldn't be fair on Sylvia. She'd be tied to me the whole time."
"I can imagine worse fates."
"For her? or for me?"
"Either or both."
"I'll tell her. Did you see her driving away as you arrived? If you'll adopt me, I'll introduce you."
"I've arranged that already. Whitsuntide will be spent at Brandon Court improving my acquaintance with her."
Gladys regarded me with frank admiration.
"You haven't wasted much time. But if you're going there, you may just as well adopt me. I shall be down there too, and if you're my guardian...."
"It'll save all trouble with the luggage. Well, it's for your parents to decide. You can guess my feelings."