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Confessions of a Well-Meaning Woman I am thinking now of his voice; the telephone had changed its timbre into something quite terribly sinister. The way he said he had persuaded Will to come home with him! And then he went on to ask whether he could not persuade me, if I was not already engaged, to join them, as they were discussing certain things in which I really ought to have a say. . . Of course I went just as soon as Norden could find me a taxi. Will has the courage of a lion, but I would not leave him at the mercy of that epileptic creature when I knew that for weeks he had been so much overwrought and worried that the least thing might bring on a break-down. . . Besides, if Sir Appleton had repented his haste in throwing away an opportunity of securing my boy’s services in his business, a mother’s guidance and judgement could never be more needed; I do not wholly trust these “captains of commerce”; if they did not know how to drive a very hard bargain, they would not be where they are. ..

I found them in Sir Appleton’s study—doing nothing in particular, so far as I could make out, though Will was drinking whisky and soda, which shewed me that he must be greatly overwrought.

“It is good of you to come, Lady Ann,” 290