It was surelynow or never, if his possibilities
were ever to be capitalised, andhis sorrows abated! Itwas hot, too, had a sloping
roof, and smelled of stables.
She listened in a turmoil of admiration and dismay.
Greatly moved, Francie took his headbetween her hands and kissed him above the
tears.
Now youre not getting on in London,your concert was
a failure, the climate doesnt suit you. Write a note asking him to lunch here with
Francie to-day week. Francie seated her foreigner onthe sofa, dark and sulky, and
herself beside him. Itwas hot, too, had a sloping roof, and smelled of stables.
Presently he arose and returned to the dining-roomwhere Mrs.
Incidentally he received what his
brotherdidnt.
Uncle, she said, at last, in a strangled voice,
youll killme!
The hairs on Swithins underlip stood
out.
But being of a loyal and unassumingnature he was
not conscious of the discrepancy. In that dim light helooked almost too saint-like,
above his flannel nightgown. Roger slowly raised his umbrella, as if taking a lunar
of the youngmans capacity.
She left town for Ilfracombe on the followingday.
Roger produced The Times, and faltered out:What are you going to do,
Roger?
A weeklater she returned to Princes Gate, paler,
thinner, more Keltic-looking than ever. In a word, they hadfits over small matters,
but never over large.
He drew the envelope and his cheque book from
hisbreast pocket.
There was little shedid not dare to this end. Well,
that young lady had had anexpensive ride, an expensive laugh. And she conceived a
plan which for daring andrealism was indeed worthy of a daughter of
Nicholas.
Then slowly but surely it dawned on him that he was
the cause ofher emotion.
Roger, in his capacity of host, alone attempted to
put the youngman at his ease.
It was as if he hadseen the brink on which his
daughter was standing.
No one came in here now who hadknown him in the
palmy days of style! Ratcatski to Euston and catch the next train toLiverpool. As a
neighbouring clock struck eleven a hansom cab drew up andSmith
alighted.
Francie seated her foreigner onthe sofa, dark and
sulky, and herself beside him. Ifhe HAD only driven a pair, it had been the finest
in the kingdom!
Uncle Swithin, do tell me why they called you
Four-in-HandForsyte, Ive always wanted to know.
She was, in his view, too thin, and alwayssaying
the wrong thing; besides, she squeaked.
His face acquired a suddendusky-red rigidity, and
he left the dining-room.
Cost her a matter of six orseven thousand pounds.