I'm rather
dull in some ways. Besides, I don't know anything about the subjects
he's interested in.'
'Don't talk nonsense,' said Edith, smiling. 'I should imagine that just
to look at you would be sufficient.'
'Oh, Mrs. Ottley! How can you?'
She turned away as if rather pained than pleased at the compliment.
'I haven't very high spirits,' she said. 'I'm not sure that I don't
sometimes depress him.'
'On the contrary; I'm sure he wouldn't like a breezy, restless person
bouncing about the room and roaring with laughter,' Edith said.
She smiled. 'Perhaps not. But there might be something between. He will
be able to go for a drive in a week or two. I wondered whether, perhaps,
you could take him out?'
'Oh yes; I dare say that could be arranged.'
'I have to go out all tomorrow afternoon. I wondered whether you would
come and sit with him, Mrs. Ottley?'
'Certainly I will, if you like.'
'Oh, please do! I know he's worrying much more about his son than
anybody thinks. You see, the boy's really very young, and I'm not sure
he's strong.'
'I suppose neither of them told the truth about their age,' said Edith.
'It reminds one of the joke in _Punch_: "Where do you expect to go if
you tell lies? To the front.
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