you look most deplorably tired."

Richard sat before the large study table, piled up with letters,
papers, county histories, racing calendars, in the Gun-Room, amid a
haze of cigar smoke. "I don't wonder," he went on, "we've had a regular
field-day, haven't we? And I'm afraid Lord Fallowfeild bored you
atrociously at luncheon. He does talk most admired foolishness half his
time, poor old boy. All the same Ludovic shouldn't show him up as he
does. It's not good form. I'm afraid Ludovic's getting rather spoilt by
London. He's growing altogether too finicking and elaborate. It's a
pity. Lady Louisa Barking is a rather exterminating person. Her
conversation is magnificently deficient in humour. It is to be hoped
Barking is not troubled by lively perceptions or he must suffer at
times. Lady Constance is a pretty little girl, don't you think so? Not
oppressed with brains, I dare say, but a good little sort."

"You liked her?" Katherine said. She stood beside him, that mortal
weariness upon her yet.

"Oh yes!--well enough--liked her in passing, as one likes the wild
roses in the hedge. But you look regularly played out, mother, and I
don't like that in the least."

Richard twisted the revolving-chair half round, and held out his arms
in invitation. As his mother leaned over him, he stretched upward and
clasped his hands lightly about her neck.--"Poor dear," he said
coaxingly, "worn to fiddle-strings with all this wild dissipation! I
declare it's quite pathetic."--He let her go, shrugging his shoulders
with a sigh and a half laugh. "Well, the dissipation will soon enough
be over now, and we shall resume the even tenor of our way, I suppose.
You'll be glad of that, mother?"

The caress had been grateful to Katherine, the cool cheek dear to her
lips, the clasp of the strong arms reassuring. Yet, in her present
state of depression, she was inclined to distrust even that which
consoled, and there seemed a lack in the fervour of this embrace. Was
it not just a trifle perfunctory, as of one who pays toll, rather than
of one who claims a privilege?

"You'll be glad too, my dearest, I trust?" she said, craving further
encouragement.

Richard twisted the chair back into place again, leaned forward to note
the hour of the clock set in the centre of the gold and enamel
inkstand.

"Oh! I'm not prophetic. I don't pretend to go before the event and
register my sensations until both they and I have fairly arrived. It's
awfully bad