"You are my mamma."
"I am not to blame for that, Daphne."
"Am I? "asked the daughter, seriously. "I don't pretend to understand, and so of course cannot explain the cause that leads to individual being, mamma dear. I know, though, that I am; and if the time should ever come that I can know why I am, I shall understand why I am a woman. I cannot now see that anybody is to be blamed on account of the fact, or accident, of sex."
"You are to blame for being a thankless child. Daphne."
"I am neither a child nor thankless, mamma dear. I simply desire to be and act myself. You know I love and honor you; but I have learned, by sad experience, that each human being exists primarily for himself or herself; and not one of us can live for another. If I had been taught this truth in my childhood, we might both have been spared much suffering. But "—turning to her patient—" we have other duties. Your fever has fallen several degrees in the past fifteen minutes. I must go. When you want to rail at anybody, just pitch into me and let mamma have a rest. Jean will bring you some broth. I'll send Mrs. O'Dowd to sit with you sometimes, to give mamma a little liberty. You two have been forced to keep each other's company till you are both as cross as a pair of imprisoned cats."
"I believe I Ve been pursuing the wrong policy," said Mrs. Benson to the Captain, as they walked together on the burning sand. "K Daphne had been compelled to endure that patient's petulance for more than a week, as I have, she would have been as weary of the sight of him as I am."
"I am not so sure of that," replied the Captain, "seeing they're not married yet. Two cats will agree together like two doves, as long as they have their individual freedom; but if you tie 'em together, they'll fight like dogs and tigers."
