‘Just as well,’ he repeated. And there was a little pause.

‘Except that they ARE there, and that’s a nuisance,’ she said. ‘There are my sons-in-law,’ she went on, in a sort of monologue. ‘Now Laura’s got married, there’s another. And I really don’t know John from James yet. They come up to me and call me mother. I know what they will say — ”how are you, mother?” I ought to say, “I am not your mother, in any sense.” But what is the use? There they are. I have had children of my own. I suppose I know them from another woman’s children.’

‘One would suppose so,’ he said.

She looked at him, somewhat surprised, forgetting perhaps that she was