whatever , she repeated , hoping to thwart the return of that first floor bedroom with its inherited furniture impregnated with the souls of long dead aunts or the unknown daughters of rich businessmen , who had combed their beautiful locks in the self same mirrors of the dressing table that needed so much care but could not be removed or replaced or put into doubt for one instant without alice haute frowning and tut-tutting at dear , obedient sydney , the protector of the family legend .