"I've been teased all my life by my brother, so I'm pretty well bomb-proof.

Say just what you like.

I'm sure I don't care." It really did not trouble Irene that Lorna should cling to this habit of closeness.

She had so many affairs of her own in which to be interested.
She had spent a glorious half-term holiday with her family in their flat at Naples, and was delighted to describe every detail of her experiences.

She chatted about her relations till Lorna knew Mr.and Mrs.Beverley and Vincent absolutely well by hearsay, though she had never met them in the flesh.