And her laughter was just in time.

The door opened and Alec Osborn came in.
"What isn't respectable ?" he asked.
"Something I have been telling Emily," she answered, laughing even a trifle wildly.

"You are too young to hear such things.

You must be kept respectable at any cost." He grinned, but faintly scowled at the same time.
"You've upset something," he remarked, looking at the carpet.
"I have, indeed," said Hester.

"A cup of tea which was half milk.