And she had never heard but that a son was bound to provide for his mother.
The following Sunday Mrs.Holman drank coffee at Barbara's; but as Mrs.
Holman was silent about what had taken place, Barbara was silent too.
Only once she led the conversation up to her son Nikolai, and thought that possibly in the autumn, when the room next door was empty, he might move into it.

It would not be too much, when it was remembered how they had always been separated.
Why Mrs.Holman at that moment became thoughtful, pursed up her mouth and said: "Thank you," she would not have any more coffee! and somewhat unexpectedly shortened her visit, shall be left untold.

It can only be stated, that from that moment, a silent contest began between them under water--under the most friendly form, it must be added, for Mrs.Holman's sake if for nothing else.
The coffee visits continued, if possible, with greater frequency, and Barbara as well as Mrs.Holman discussed and talked over every possible subject, except the one that lay nearest to their hearts--their own personal plans in connection with Nikolai and Silla.

On that point they watched each other in diplomatic silence, like two chess-players of whom the one dare not move until he has seen through the other one's intention; Mrs.Holman, in the middle of some strictly reserved opinion, taking in everything with her precise, little face and cold grey eyes, and seeing it all clear and small as if through the bottom of a tumbler; and Barbara, round, hospitable, large and fat, with great, overflowing features, and generally talking about her time at the Consul's.
But during all this, there was one thing upon which each of them became always more and more decided--if she could not live with them herself, she would at any rate put a stop to the other coming and filling up the house.
The two future mothers-in-law were each occupied to the best of their ability in making it impossible for the other; but of this quietly calculated conflict which was going on in the ground far below them, Nikolai and Silla had no suspicion..