Bevis, then sitting by Mrs.
Widdowson.

That increased her delight. Foolish as Mrs. Bevis undoubtedly was, she
perchance had not praised her son beyond his merits. He looked the best
of good fellows; so kind and merry and spirited; such a capable man,
too. It struck Monica as a very hard fate that he should have this
family on his hands. What they must cost him! Probably he could not
think of marrying, just on their account.

Mr. Bevis came and took a place by her side.

'Thank you so very much,' she said, 'for that charming song. Is it
published?'

'Oh dear, no!' He laughed and shook his thick hair about. 'It's one of
two or three that I somehow struck out when I was studying in Germany,
ages ago. You play, I hope?'

Monica gave a sad negative.

'Oh, what does it matter? There are hosts of people who will always be
overjoyed to play when you ask them. It would be a capital thing if
only those children were allowed to learn an instrument who showed
genuine talent for music.'

'In that case,' said Monica, 'there certainly wouldn't be hosts of
people ready to play for me.'

'No.' His merry laugh was repeated. 'You mustn't mind when I contradict
myself; it's one of my habits. Are you here for the whole winter?'

'Only a few weeks, unfortunately.'

'And do you dread the voyage back?'

'To tell the truth, I do. I had a very unpleasant time coming.'

'As for myself, how I ever undertake the thing I really don't know. One
of these times I shall die; there's not a shadow of doubt of that. The
girls always have to carry me ashore, one holding me by the hair and
one by the boots. Happily, I am so emancipated that my weight doesn't
distress them. I pick up flesh in a day or two, and then my health is
stupendous--as at present. You see how marvellously _fit_ I look.'

'Yes, you look very well,' replied Monica, glancing at the fair, comely
face.

'It's deceptive. All our family have wretched constitutions. If I go to
work regularly for a couple of months without a holiday, I sink into
absolute decrepitude. An office-chair has been specially made for me,
to hold me up at the desk.--I beg your pardon for this clowning, Mrs.
Widdowson,' he suddenly added in another voice. 'The air puts me in
such spirits. What air it is! Speaking quite seriously, my mother was
saved by coming to live here. We believed her to be dying, and now I
have hopes that she will live ever so many years longer.'

He spoke of his mother with ev