human
Violet's been sitting most of the day with Sonia, he explained.
gpt
I wonder if _you_ guessed.... I confess I never thought of it for one moment. Sonia's going to have a child very shortly.
human
You're sure of that?
gpt
She told Violet. The question is--what are we going to do with her? She's got to be properly looked after and she's got to be moved out of her present pokey little room.... I suppose it means a nursing home. Violet suggested taking her to Loring House, but that was more generous than practical. I'm afraid there's no doubt Sonia did behave very badly to Jim Loring when she was engaged to him ... and Violet knows it and doesn't forgive her ... and Sonia doesn't forgive her for knowing it. _You_ know what women are. Violet's got all the sweetness in the world, she _thinks_ she doesn't bear a grudge, she can call on Sonia in bed, make a fuss of her ... but it's different to take her into her own house, particularly with the associations that house must have for Sonia. But I needn't labour the point; the suggestion was turned down almost as soon as it was made. Well, she can't go to her mother, because Crowley Court's overflowing with wounded soldiers; and I don't know that she's overwhelmingly anxious to meet her mother. She can't come here, of course.
human
Whose child is it going to be?
gpt
Grayle's the father. I suppose that, as Raney's taken up his present attitude---- He left the sentence unfinished and began to fill a pipe.
human
Ye gods, what a sweet mess people can get themselves into!
gpt
When's the event expected?
human
Pretty soon, I fancy. Violet didn't tell me the exact date, but she did give me to understand very plainly that Sonia mustn't be left by herself any longer. She was extraordinarily overwrought and hysterical, when I saw her, but for some reason or other I never imagined.... I say, Stornaway, if it had been Raney's child, if this had happened a year ago?
gpt
Nothing would have saved them, I answered,
human
I suppose even Raney will see it, when his wife gives birth to another man's child.... And _then_ what? Will he divorce her then? Have we got to go through all this racket again? In the meantime the nursing-home problem----
gpt
Who's been to call here? he asked George.
human
I met a car driving away.
gpt
It was Violet Loring.
human
Oh, I wish I'd known that! When next you see her, you can tell her she's a rude pig not to have pulled up. She must have seen me.
gpt
She was in rather a hurry, George explained.
human
As a matter of fact, it was me she came to see.
gpt
Nothing wrong, I hope? he asked.
human
The boy's all right?
gpt
Oh, it wasn't that. George looked at me almost despairingly, but I could only shrug my shoulders and leave him to make up his own mind.
human
She came in to say that Sonia's a bit seedy, he went on.
gpt
I--as a matter of fact, I saw her for a moment yesterday and, as she was rather off colour, I thought it would be a friendly act for Vi to look her up. I don't know if you heard Lady Maitland telling me at lunch the other day that she was a bit done up.
human
I didn't hear anything about it. I--You ought to have told me, George. What's the matter with her?
gpt
I only saw her for a moment, he answered evasively.
human
She seemed rather overdone.
gpt
But who's looking after her?
human
Nobody much at present. That was what Violet came about: she'd been to see her and thought it would be more comfortable if she were moved into a nursing home.