Arthur swirled the drink in his glass and occasionally sipped it while he watched his daughters. He had to admit, the school had done Alexandra good. The way she spoke to Florence was pleasant, well-mannered, restrained, none of the over-enthusiastic, bold speech that used to make him cringe. Here were two well-bred young ladies conversing.

The door opened and his other daughters entered, and for a moment Arthur cringed anyway, as the noise of excited young ladies reached uncouth levels when they all gathered around their oldest sister, greeted her, and talked over one another to ask her about her time at school.

A boy of around thirteen or fourteen slunk in and sat down away from the family. "Good to see you, cousin Alexandra," he said, though he could not quite overcome the noise of the girls. He glanced at his uncle, but Arthur watched the girls.