"Indeed, I think I’m very good," Aileen defended herself.  "I let him go all over the country, which you know very well, and climb enormous trees, and go swimming with the O’Connor boys, and use an axe, and do all sorts of things that would have filled us both with horror six months ago.  And I take hold of myself with both hands and say, ’Aileen Macleod, you’re not going to be nervous and make a poodle of your son!’ But this is the first day he has ridden Roany to the township, Tom: and, you know, Roany isn’t old Jane!"