ONE:Frank thought it would be proper to have his sister understand the process by which the articles she desired were prepared, and, with the assistance of Doctor Bronson, he was able to write her an account of it that she could study, and, if she chose, could read or tell to her friends. Here is what he produced on the subject:"Yes, Lieutenant, I'll do so with pleasure, and I'm sure what you say will have the proper--here are the ladies."
FORE:Well then, theres a reason the more for asking him to Brighton, said Mrs Keeling, now quite out of sight of her tact, I know very well what all his attentions to you mean. Ive never seen a man so devoted, for Im sure your father never made such a fuss over me as that. Youve got to meet a man half-way, dear; its only right to show him that you are not indifferent to him (or do I mean that hes not indifferent to you? some words are so puzzling). He wants a wife, I can see that, and you may trust me that its you he wants. I shall invite him to Brighton, and if you only behave sensibly, hell ask you before were even thinking of coming back.And no one knows who the giver of the new wing is? she asked.
FORE:Gregg shook his head. "You might try to do such a thing, but you would certainly fail. Besides, I know you are telling the truth. Your manner plainly shows it."Mrs Keeling tried to recollect something about quarrels she had been party to. There was the case of the two little tiffs she had had lately with her husband, once when he had distinctly sworn at her, once when he had asked her so roughly what she meant with regard to her little joke about Norah and the catalogue. One of those, so it suddenly seemed to her now, had led to a pearl-pendant, which seemed to illustrate Alices theory of quarrels leading to warmer attachments. She had not connected the two before. She wondered whether Mrs Fyson would say that that was very clever too.... She determined to think it over when she had leisure. At present she was too curious about Alice to attend to it. But she would think it over at Brighton.{223}