I would say so to anybody."
"Oh, I beg your pardon. I never meant--"
"Nothing. I can say that for dear Angela with perfect
confidence. Whether he made advances--" She broke off with a
shrug of her plump shoulders.
Antony waited eagerly.
"Naturally they met. Possibly he might have--I don't know. But
my duty as a mother was clear, Mr. Gillingham."
Mr. Gillingham made an encouraging noise.
"I told him quite frankly that--how shall I put it?--that he was
trespassing. Tactfully, of course. But frankly."
"You mean," said Antony, trying to speak calmly, "that you told
him that--er--Mr. Ablett and your daughter--?"
Mrs. Norbury nodded several times.
"Exactly, Mr. Gillingham. I had my duty as a mother."
"I am sure, Mrs. Norbury, that nothing would keep you from doing
your duty. But it must have been disagreeable. Particularly if
you weren't quite sure--"
"He was attracted, Mr. Gillingham. Obviously attracted."
"Who would not be?" said Antony, with a charming smile. "It must
have been something of a shock to him to--"
"It was just that which made me so glad that I had spoken.
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