I can make my mother happy.

Nobody else can.

I think I'm getting rather conceited about it." "Yes, dear; I find you insufferable," remarked Aunt Barbara parenthetically.
"Then you must just bear it.

The thing is"-- Michael took a moment to find the words he searched for--"the thing is I want to be wanted.

Well, it's no light thing to be wanted by your mother, even if--" He sat down on the sofa by his aunt.
"Aunt Barbara, how ironically gifts come," he said.