ead of the father, whom he detested, and
who now cried in a voice of thunder, 'Leave 'em alone, I say! I don't pay
for lilies to be thrown away for a woman's whim. Leave 'em alone.'

'They're cheap enough, and they really never are used for
table-decorating. It must have been a mistake of the maid's. Sykes had
better remove them, if you don't mind,' said George.

Sykes, being of the same opinion, swiftly removed the vase and handed it
to one of the footmen.

Mr Clay, awed by his son's superior knowledge of what was done and not
done (in society, he supposed), remained silent, and at last the banquet
came to an end, and with suspicious alacrity Mrs Clay and her daughter
rose and left the room, followed by George after his usual murmured
apology to his father for not staying with him; for George Clay was as
polite, in an indolent way, to his father as he was to every one else.

'Phew, I breathe again!' cried Sarah, as she stamped her feet outside the
dining-room door.

'Sh, sh, my dear! Your father might 'ear you. The flowers did make the
air sickly.'

'Flowers! It wasn't the flowers. It was everything. I always think of
Miss Kilmansegg and her "Gold, gold; nothing but gold!" Phew! how I
loathe and detest it all!'

'Draw it mild, Sarah! Even gold has its advantages.'

'It mayn't have to every one's mind. Look what an effeminate creature
it's made of you!' she cried.

George Clay lit a cigarette, with a 'May I?' to his mother, and only
smiled as he leant back in an armchair and puffed contentedly away.

Clearly Sarah was not able to rouse her brother by her criticism.

CHAPTER III.

STALLED OXEN.

'Now then, now then; have I just come in time for fireworks?' said a
man's voice; and Sarah felt a hearty clap of a man's firm hand on her
shoulder.

'Uncle Howroyd!' she cried, as she turned and threw her arms round her
uncle's neck.

'Gently there, my lass; you needn't stifle me if you can't breathe
yourself.--Well, George,' turning to the youth, 'you find life very
exhausting as usual, I suppose. But, I say, you haven't got company, I
hope?' he inquired, as he noticed the elaborate toilettes of the ladies.

'Oh no; we're only dressed for dinner. W'y didn't you come in time for
it, Bill? We've just finished; but you'll find your brother in the
dinin'-room, an' he'll ring for something to be brought back for you;
there's plenty,' said Mrs Clay.

'I don't doubt that; but I've had my dinner, thank you