He just smiled as though the whole thing were beneath his notice, and went on reading his paper, and when mother appealed to him he said, coolly, that it was none of his business or hers either if Ursula chose to make a fool of herself; she had the right to do so,--something like that, you know.' 'How very pleasant!' I remarked satirically, for I hated the way Uncle Brian put down his foot on things that displeased him.

I preferred Aunt Philippa's voluble arguments to that.
'To make things worse,' went on Sara cheerfully, 'Mrs.Fullerton and Lesbia have come in, and mother and Mrs.Fullerton are trying which can talk the faster.

Lesbia asked for you, and then did not speak another word.

What shall you do, Ursula, dear ?' 'I shall just go down and ask Aunt Philippa for a cup of tea,' I returned coolly, folding up my work.

Sara looked half frightened at my boldness, and then she began to laugh.
'It is so absurd, you know,' she returned, linking her arm in mine affectionately.