d his fellow-creatures--gentle and simple alike--to be as
contented and happy as he, almost invariably, himself was. When he had
reason to believe them otherwise, it perplexed and worried him greatly.
It followed that he was embarrassed, apologetic even, in Richard
Calmady's presence. He felt vaguely responsible as for some neglected
duty, as though there was something somehow which he ought to set
right. And this feeling harassed him, increasing the natural
discursiveness and inconsequence of his speech. He was so terribly
nervous of forgetting and of hurting the young man's feelings by saying
the wrong thing, that all possible wrong things got upon his brain,
with the disastrous result that of course he ended by saying them. In
face of a person so sadly stationary as poor Dick, moreover, his own
perfect ability to move freely about appeared to him as little short of
discourteous, not to say coarse. He, therefore, tried to keep very
still, with the consequence that he developed an inordinate tendency to
fidget. Altogether Lord Fallowfeild did not show to advantage in
Richard Calmady's company.

"Ah, yes! fine thing going out early," he repeated. "Always made a
practice of it myself at your age, Calmady. Can't stand doctor's stuff,
don't believe in it, never did. Though I like Knott, good fellow
Knott--always have liked Knott. But never was a believer in drugs.
Nothing better than a good sharp walk, now, early, really early before
the frost's out of the grass. Excellent for the liver walking----"

Here, perceiving that his son Ludovic looked very hard at him, eyebrows
raised to most admonitory height, he added hastily--

"Eh?--yes, of course, or riding. Riding, nothing like that for
health--better exercise still----"

"Is it?" Richard put in. He was too busy with his own thoughts to be
greatly affected by Lord Fallowfeild's blunders just then. "I'm glad to
know you think so. You see it's a matter in which I'm not very much of
a judge."

"No--no--of course not.--Queer fellow Calmady," Lord Fallowfeild added
to himself. "Uncommonly sharp way he has of setting you down."

But just then, to his relief, Lady Calmady, Lady Louisa Barking, and
pretty, little Lady Constance Quayle entered the room together. Mr.
Ormiston and John Knott followed engaged in close conversation, the
rugged, rough-hewn aspect of the latter presenting a strong contrast to
the thin, tall figure and face, white and refined to the point of
emaciat