ad a bath, and then returned to his father; of
course, he could not sleep.

Clare, Garrett, and Robin met at breakfast with the sense of
approaching calamity heavy upon them. As far as Sir Jeremy himself was
concerned there was little real regret--how could there be? Of course,
there was the sentiment of separation, the breaking of a great many
ties that had been strong and traditional; but it was better that the
old man should go--of that there was no question. Sir Jeremy himself
would rather. No, "Le roi est mort" was easy enough to say, but how
"Vive le roi" stuck in their throats.

Garrett hinted at a wretched night, and quoted Benham on the dangers of
an arm-chair at night-time.

"Of course, one had been thinking," he said vaguely, after a melancholy
survey of eggs and bacon that developed into resignation over dry
toast--"there was a good deal to think about. But I certainly had
intended to go to bed--I can't imagine what----"

Robin said nothing. His mind was busy with Mary's speech of the night
before; his world lay crumbled about him, and, like Cato, he was
finding a certain melancholy satisfaction in its ruins. His thoughts
were scarcely with his grandfather; he felt vaguely that there was
Death in the house and that its immediate presence was one of the
things that had helped to bring his self-content about his ears. But
it was of his father that he was thinking, and of a certain morning
when he had refused a walk. If he got a chance again!

Clare looked wretched. Robin thought that she had never seemed so ill
before; there was, for the first time, an air of carelessness about
her, as though she had flung on her clothes anyhow--something utterly
unlike her.

"I am going to speak to Harry this morning," she said.

Garrett looked up peevishly. "Scarcely the time, Clare. I should say
that it were better for us to wait until--well, afterwards. There is,
perhaps, something a little indecent----"

"I have considered the matter carefully," interrupted Clare decisively.
"This is the best time----"

"Oh, well, of course. Only I should have thought that I might have had
just a little say in the matter. I was, after all, originally
consulted as well as yourself. I saw the girl, and was even, I might
venture to suggest, with her for some time. But, of course, a mere
man's opinion----"

"Oh, don't be absurd, Garrett. It is I that have to ask him--it is
pretty obvious that I have every right