He is; and that's another case of 'always was'; but I know him, and he's a knight, George--a crazy one, perhaps, if you've read 'Don Quixote.' And I think your mother likes him better than she likes any man outside her own family, and that he interests her more than anybody else--and 'always has.' And that's all there is to it, except--" "Except what ?" George asked quickly, as he paused.
"Except that I suspect--" Amberson chuckled, and began over: "I'll tell you in confidence.

I think Fanny's a fairly tricky customer, for such an innocent old girl! There isn't any real harm in her, but she's a great diplomatist--lots of cards up her lace sleeves, Georgie! By the way, did you ever notice how proud she is of her arms?
Always flashing 'em at poor Eugene!" And he stopped to laugh again.
"I don't see anything confidential about that," George complained.

"I thought--" "Wait a minute! My idea is--don't forget it's a confidential one, but I'm devilish right about it, young Georgie!--it's this: Fanny uses your mother for a decoy duck.

She does everything in the world she can to keep your mother's friendship with Eugene going, because she thinks that's what keeps Eugene about the place, so to speak.

Fanny's always with your mother, you see; and whenever he sees Isabel he sees Fanny.
Fanny thinks he'll get used to the idea of her being around, and some day her chance may come! You see, she's probably afraid--perhaps she even knows, poor thing!--that she wouldn't get to see much of Eugene if it weren't for Isabel's being such a friend of his.