Do you object," she asked, looking curiously at her sister and smiling slightly, "to Mr.Lenox's coming here as he does, and if so, why ?" This was apparently more direct than Mrs.Carling was quite prepared for.

"And if you do," Mary proceeded, "what is to be done about it?
Am I to make him understand that it is not considered the proper thing?
or will you?
or shall we leave it to Julius ?" Mrs.Carling looked up into her sister's face, in which was a smile of amused penetration, and looked down again in visible embarrassment.
The young woman laughed as she shook her finger at her.
"Oh, you transparent goose!" she cried.

"What did he say ?" "What did who say ?" was the evasive response.
"Julius," said Mary, putting her finger under her sister's chin and raising her face.

"Tell me now.

You've been talking with him, and I insist upon knowing the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.