"Do with her? You talk as if she were a yard of calico. I shall do absolutely nothing with her, and she herself will do everything she chooses. She gave me notice of that."
"What you meant then, in your telegram, was that her character＇s independent."
"I never know what I mean in my telegrams—especially those I send from America. Clearness is too expensive. Come down to your father."
"It＇s not yet a quarter to eight," said Ralph.
"I must allow for his impatience," Mrs. Touchett answered. Ralph knew what to think of his father＇s impatience; but, making no rejoinder, he offered his mother his arm. This put it in his power, as they descended together, to stop her a moment on the middle landing of the staircase—the broad, low, widearmed staircase of time-blackened oak which was one of the most striking features of Gardencourt. "You＇ve no plan of marrying her?" he smiled.