of the
situation. Lord Ashbridge said little but ate largely, and during the
intervals of empty plates directed an impartial gaze at the portraits of
his ancestors, while wholly ignoring his descendant. But Michael was too
wise to put himself into places where he could be pointedly ignored, and
the resplendent dinner, with its six footmen and its silver service,
was not really more joyless than usual. But his father's majestic
displeasure was more apparent when the three men sat alone afterwards,
and it was in dead silence that port was pushed round and cigarettes
handed. Francis, it is true, made a couple of efforts to enliven things,
but his remarks produced no response whatever from his uncle, and he
subsided into himself, thinking with regret of what an amusing evening
he would have had if he had only stopped in town. But when they rose
Michael signed to his cousin to go on, and planted himself firmly in the
path to the door. It was evident that his father did not mean to speak
to him, but he could not push by him or walk over him.

"There is one thing I want to say to you, father," said he. "I have told
my mother that our interview this morning was quite amicable. I do not
see why she should be distressed by knowing that it was not."

His father's face softened a moment.

"Yes, I agree to that," he said.

As far as that went, the compact was observed, and whenever Lady
Ashbridge was present her husband made a point of addressing a few
remarks to Michael, but there their intercourse ended. Michael found
opportunity to explain to Aunt Barbara what had happened, suggesting
as a consolatory simile the domestic difficulties of the seals at the
Zoological Gardens, and was pleased to find her recognise the aptness of
this description. But heaviest of all on the spirits of the whole party
sat the anxiety about Lady Ashbridge. There could be no doubt that
some cerebral degeneration was occurring, and Lady Barbara's urgent
representation to her brother had the effect of making him promise
to take her up to London without delay after Christmas, and let a
specialist see her. For the present the pious fraud practised on her
that Michael and his father had had "a good talk" together, and were
excellent friends, sufficed to render her happy and cheerful. She
had long, dim talks, full of repetition, with Michael, whose presence
appeared to make her completely content, and when he was out or away
from her she would sit eagerl