She's asleep at last, and because of what she bore it's up to me to make things smoother for her daughter.

Madam," he added, turning to his companion with a smile, "I have to thank you for doing what you must have figured was your duty; but in the meanwhile we'll--let things slide." He turned away and left her before she could answer, astonished but a little touched by what she had heard.

Still, the gentler impression vanished, and when she informed Major Kinnaird of what had been said she was once more somewhat angry with Stirling.
"It is really useless to reason with him," she said.

"The man has wholly preposterous views.".