Christina.
You've been so intimate, I'm sure he would have been able to snatch a moment to say good-bye to you and Arthur before his train started.
[Violet does not quite know what this speech means. She gives Christina a look. Anne comes to the rescue quickly.]
Anne.
Ronny has been acting as Violet's secretary to a certain extent. I expect they had all sorts of little secrets together that they wanted to discuss in private.
Christina.
Of course. That's very natural. [With great friendliness.] If I thought I were robbing you of anyone who was indispensable to you I wouldn't ask you to put in a good word for Henry. But, of course, if Ronald became the Khedive's secretary he couldn't exactly continue to write letters and pay bills for you, could he?
Violet.
I'm rather taken aback. I'd got it fixed in my head that Ronny was going.
Christina.