"Do you know where he spends half his time?"

"Not I. To tell the truth, his listless, dawdling way rather provokes
me, and I have not been sorry to see less of him lately."

"He goes to the Cottage every day."

"Does he? I should not have thought that an amusement much in his way."

"You say yourself that Lucia is a wonderfully pretty girl."

"Lucia? She is a child. You don't think that attracts him?"

Mrs. Bellairs was silent.

"Elise, don't be absurd. You women are always fancying things of that
kind. A fellow like Percy is not so easily caught."

"I hope to goodness I am only fancying, but I believe you would give
Mrs. Costello credit for some sense, and she is certainly uneasy."

"Does she say so?"

"No. But I know it; and Maurice and Lucia are not the same friends they
used to be."

"Lucia must be an idiot if she can prefer Percy to Maurice; but most
girls do seem to be idiots."