ugh he so hates it?"

But she was more and more all lucidity--save in so far as she was now
almost all authority. "Ah, hating still more to seem afraid, he has come
back to face the music!"

Lady Grace, turning away as in vague despair for the manner in which
the music might affect him, yet wheeled about again, after thought, to
a positive recognition and even to quite an inconsequent pride.
"Yes--that's dear old father!"

And what was Lady Sandgate moreover but mistress now of the subject?
"At the point the row has reached he couldn't stand it another day; so
he has thrown up his cure and--lest we should oppose him!--not even
announced his start."

"Well," her companion returned, "now that I've _done_ it all I shall
never oppose him again!"

Lady Sandgate appeared to show herself as still under the impression she
might have received on entering. "He'll only oppose _you!_"

"If he does," said Lady Grace, "we're at present two to bear it."

"Heaven save us then"--the elder woman was quick, was even cordial, for
the sense of this--"your good friend _is_ clever!"

Lady Grace honoured the remark. "Mr. Crim-ble's remarkably clever."

"And you've arranged----?"

"We haven't arranged--but we've understood. So that, dear Amy, if _you_
understand--!" Lady Grace paused, for Gotch had come in from the hall.

"His lordship has arrived?" his mistress immediately put to him.

"No, my lady, but Lord John has--to know if he's expected _here_, and in
that case, by your ladyship's leave, to come up."

Her ladyship turned to the girl. "May Lord John--as we do await your
father--come up?"

"As suits _you_, please!"

"He may come up," said Lady Sandgate to Gotch. "His lordship's
expected." She had a pause till they were alone again, when she went
on to her companion: "You asked me just now if I understood. Well--I do
understand!"

Lady Grace, with Gotch's withdrawal, which left the door open, had
reached the passage to the other room. "Then you'll excuse me!"--she
made her escape.

II

Lord John, reannounced the next instant from the nearest quarter and
quite waiving salutations, left no doubt of the high pitch of his
eagerness and tension as soon as the door had closed behind him. "What
on earth then do you suppose he has come back to _do_--?" To which he
added while his hostess's gesture impatiently disclaimed conjecture:
"Because when a fellow really finds himself the centre of a
cyclone----!"

"Isn't it j