Dangerous Ages

hem on the esplanade, wa

es. Neville, you should have seen that she didn't. Now you'll get your rheumatism back, child, and only yoursel

having succumbed to the impulse to adopt this a

ou and very selfish of the children. Now you'd

aking a fuss of her, suggesting remedies and so on. She would stay up, and show them she could be plucky and cheerful even with rheumatism. A definite thing, li

ack to town. Rosalind's departure made Mrs. Hilary more cheerful still. She soared into her gayest mo

ow you often enjoy a chat with your neighbours very muc

on your birthday, darling. If you like to be too clever for anyone else in the Bay so that

Nan, and observed the ways of others with quiet, ironic humour, saying nothing unkind. Pamela, when she didn't like a way of talking-when Rosalind, for instance, was being malicious or indecent or both-would skilfully carry the talk somewhere else. She could be a rapid and good talker, and could tell story after story, lightly and coolly, till danger points were past. Pamela was beautifully bred; she had savoir-faire as well as kindness, and never lost control of herself. These family gatherings really bored her a little, because her work and interests lay elsewhere, but she would never admit or show it. She was kind even to Rosalind, though cool. She had always been kind and cool to Rosalind, becaus

n-laws, often has this effect on family parties. Mrs. Hilary had her three daughters to herself-the girls, as she still called them. She felt cosy and comforted, though in p