You are laughing, John?
I dare say I am jealous and inconsistent.

You are quite right.

One moment I want to think Sarah in earnest--and willing to marry my boy; and the next I remember that I began to hate his wife the very day he was born." "It appears to be the nature of mothers," said John, indulgently.
"But you will allow _me_ to hope for Peter's happiness, and quite incidentally, of course, for our own ?" She smiled.

"Seriously, John, I wish you would tell me how he got on in London." "He dined with me once or twice, as you know," said John, "and was very friendly.

I think he was relieved that I made no suggestion of tutors or universities, and that I took his eyeglass for granted.