This would relieve him of the perpetual embarrassment of his wife's presence, and the perpetual irritation of Michael's.

He had persuaded himself that he was making a tremendous personal sacrifice in proposing that Michael should live with them, and this relieved him of the necessity.
"Upon my word, Michael," he said, with the first hint of cordiality that he had displayed, "that is very well thought of.

Let us consider; it is certainly the case that this derangement in your poor mother's mind has caused her to take what I might almost call a dislike to me.

I mentioned that to Sir James, though it was very painful for me to do so, and he said that it was a common and most distressing symptom of brain disease, that the sufferer often turned against those he loved best.

Your plan would have the effect of removing that." He paused a moment, and became even more sublimely fatuous.
"You, too," he said, "it would obviate the interruption of your work, about which you feel so keenly.