"She sees the worst that is in me, and brings it to the surface. And when I protest, she laughs and insists that I don't know myself. That I am a sort of Dr. Jekyll, with the Mr. Hyde part of me asleep—"
"And you let her scare you like that?"
He nodded. "Every man has a weak spot, and mine is wanting the world to think well of me."
"Think well of yourself. What would Jean say if she heard you talking like this?"
"Jean?" she was startled by the breaking up of his face into deep lines of trouble. "Do you know what she is doing, Drusilla? She is staying in that great old house playing daughter to the General."
"Marion says the General's affection for her is touching—he doesn't want her out of his sight."
"And because he doesn't want her out of his sight, she must stay a prisoner. I say that he hasn't done anything to deserve such devotion, Drusilla. He hasn't done anything to deserve it."
"You are jealous."
"No. It isn't that. Though I'll confess that something pulls at my heart when I think of it—. But I want her to be happy."
"I think she is happy. Life is giving her the hard things—but you and I would not be without the—hard things; we have reached out our hands for them, because the world needs us. Are you going to deny your daughter that?"