It was quite possible, few mothers of sons who have retained their bachelorhood as long as Roger enjoy being relegated to the position of dowager.

They have reigned too long to relish abdication.
As Nan replied conventionally to Lady Gertrude's greeting, some such thoughts as these flashed fugitively through her mind, and with them came a rather tender, girlish determination, to make the transition as easy as possible to the elder woman when the time came for it.

The situation made a quick appeal to her eager sympathies.

She could imagine so exactly how she herself would detest it if she were in the other woman's position.

Somewhat absorbed in this line of thought, she followed her hostess into a stiff and formal-looking drawing-room which conveyed the same sense of frigidity as Lady Gertrude's welcome.
There are some rooms you seem to know and love almost the moment you enter them, while with others you feel that you will never get on terms of friendliness.