“Darling, too uncivilized altogether. Of course the little horror was completely blotto—but really—! He’ll probably get pneumonia now, and die on you.” “It’ll be okay by me if he does. But he won’t.” “And, my dear, look at the mess!” The thin, shabby carpet was wet through and so were most of the yellow-backed books. The circular pedestal bookcase that had contained them lay on its side, slowly spilling more volumes into the wet pools on the floor, and the rose-patterned water-jug had rolled against the jamb of the door. “Too like the morning after an air raid, don’t you know what I mean. I wish I’d never brought him here, but I hadn’t the slightest idea he was that way inclined. It’s really too bad. Darling, was he quite mad, about Colonel Lonergan, or is there something in it? I needn’t tell you I’m the most broad-minded woman that God ever created—it’s being so tremendously one with my boys, I think, so that I simply, absolutely, see youth’s point of view—but I just couldn’t bear you to make any sort of mistake.
