He seemed to be reckoning over Ralph's interests.

"Of course you have your mother," he said at last.

"You'll take care of her." "My mother will always take care of herself," Ralph returned.
"Well," said his father, "perhaps as she grows older she'll need a little help." "I shall not see that.

She'll outlive me." "Very likely she will; but that's no reason--!" Mr.Touchett let his phrase die away in a helpless but not quite querulous sigh and remained silent again.
"Don't trouble yourself about us," said his son, "My mother and I get on very well together, you know." "You get on by always being apart; that's not natural." "If you leave us we shall probably see more of each other." "Well," the old man observed with wandering irrelevance, "it can't be said that my death will make much difference in your mother's life." "It will probably make more than you think." "Well, she'll have more money," said Mr.Touchett.

"I've left her a good wife's portion, just as if she had been a good wife." "She has been one, daddy, according to her own theory.