"No," Mrs. Gereth replied, "but because they belong to the house and the house belongs to Owen. If I should wish to take anything, she would simply say, with that motionless mask: 'It goes with the house.' And day after day, in the face of every argument, of every consideration of generosity, she would repeat, without winking, in that voice like the squeeze of a doll's stomach: 'It goes with the house—it goes with the house.' In that attitude they'll shut themselves up." "If you do any such thing, you shall never see me again,—absolutely, literally never!"!

CHAPTER XIV "Is that what you said to her?" Fleda asked.

The handle of the door turned, and Fleda had only time to jerk at him: "Your mother!" Fleda gave a faint, stubborn smile. "He cares for her too much." At this our young lady smiled. "Yes, because it was a disappointment. She had been so sure."