"I mean to ask your father to invite her to stay three or four weeks at Gardencourt." "You needn't stand on any such ceremony as that," said Ralph.

"My father will ask her as a matter of course." "I don't know about that.

She's my niece; she's not his." "Good Lord, dear mother; what a sense of property! That's all the more reason for his asking her.

But after that--I mean after three months (for its absurd asking the poor girl to remain but for three or four paltry weeks)--what do you mean to do with her ?" "I mean to take her to Paris.

I mean to get her clothing." "Ah yes, that's of course.