son
Addition.

George stared at the ugly houses opposite, and hated them more than
ever; but he shivered. Perhaps the riffraff living in those houses sat
at the windows to watch their betters; perhaps they dared to gossip--

He uttered an exclamation, and walked rapidly toward his own front gate.
The victoria had returned with Miss Fanny alone; she jumped out briskly
and the victoria waited.

"Where's mother?" George asked sharply, as he met her.

"At Lucy's. I only came back to get some embroidery, because we found
the sun too hot for driving. I'm in a hurry."

But, going into the house with her, he detained her when she would have
hastened upstairs.

"I haven't time to talk now, Georgie; I'm going right back. I promised
your mother--"

"You listen!" said George.

"What on earth--"

He repeated what Amelia had said. This time, however, he spoke coldly,
and without the emotion he had exhibited during the recital to his
uncle: Fanny was the one who showed agitation during this interview, for
she grew fiery red, and her eyes dilated. "What on earth do you want to
bring such trash to me for?" she demanded, breathing fast.

"I merely wished to know two things: whether it is your duty or mine to
speak to father of what Aunt Amelia--"

Fanny stamped her foot. "You little fool!" she cried. "You awful little
fool!"

"I decline--"

"Decline, my hat! Your father's a sick man, and you--"

"He doesn't seem so to me."

"Well, he does to me! And you want to go troubling him with an Amberson
family row! It's just what that cat would love you to do!"

"Well, I--"

"Tell your father if you like! It will only make him a little sicker to
think he's got a son silly enough to listen to such craziness!"

"Then you're sure there isn't any talk?" Fanny disdained a reply in
words. She made a hissing sound of utter contempt and snapped her
fingers. Then she asked scornfully: "What's the other thing you wanted
to know?"

George's pallor increased. "Whether it mightn't be better, under the
circumstances," he said, "if this family were not so intimate with the
Morgan family--at least for a time. It might be better--"

Fanny stared at him incredulously. "You mean you'd quit seeing Lucy?"

"I hadn't thought of that side of it, but if such a thing were necessary
on account of talk about my mother, I--I--" He hesitated unhappily. "I
suggested that if all of us--for a time--perhaps only for a time--it
might be better if--"