Any need of Roger's must be instantly supplied.
Lady Gertrude waited until the servants had cleared away the breakfast, then she turned to Nan with a very definite air of having something to say.
"Have you and Roger quarrelled ?" she asked abruptly.
The girl started nervously.

She had not expected this as a consequence of Roger's taciturnity.
"No," she said, stumbling a little.

"No, we haven't--quarrelled." Lady Gertrude scrutinised her with keen, light-grey eyes that had the same penetrating glance as Roger's own, and Nan felt herself colouring under it.
"You've displeased him in some way or other," insisted Lady Gertrude, and waited for a reply.
Nan flared up at the older woman's arbitrary manner.
"That's rather a funny way to put it, isn't it ?" she said quickly.
"I'm--I'm not a child, you know." "You behave very much like one at times," retorted Lady Gertrude.

"I've done my utmost since you came here to fit you to be Roger's wife, and without any appreciable result.

You seem to be exactly as irresponsible and thoughtless as when you arrived." The cold, contemptuous criticism flicked the girl's raw nerves like the point of a lash.