"Whichever you prefer. We hoped you would spend the evening with us,
but I can quite understand that you must be tired," said Philippa,
resolutely avoiding meeting Theo's eye lest she should be obliged to
smile at the thought of the wasted culinary efforts over which that poor
victim had been groaning the whole of the morning. Then the door
closed, the two men automatically moved their chairs nearer the table,
and Stephen nervously began his story:

"You know, of course, that my father was in bad health for some years
before he died. His work was of the kind which was peculiarly dependent
on health, for he had the artistic temperament and could do nothing to
order. He was in chronic low spirits, and had not the energy to
compose. In former years he made a very fair income; though, of course,
it was always uncertain, and he could never tell from month to month
what would come in. Sometimes he made a hit, and one or two of his
songs bring in a fair royalty still. He was able to save a little, now
and again, but the last two years he was constantly having to draw on
his capital, until we find that there is practically none left. There
is, however, an insurance which is intact. It seems that on his
marriage my mother's people insisted on this as a provision for her in
the event of his death; and as the premiums were paid up some years ago,
it has not lapsed. It amounts to two thousand pounds, and is left to
Philippa and myself in trust for the family, with full discretion to use
it as seems best to us for our mutual benefit and advancement in life.
There are six of us altogether. My brother Barnard is still at school,
but we have given notice for him to leave at the end of the term, as he
is sixteen, and must begin to work for himself. Two thousand pounds is
not a large provision for six people."

Mrs Loftus drew in her lips and stared fixedly at a corner of the
ceiling; her husband drummed upon the table and looked unaffectedly
distressed.

"So bad as that! Tut, tut! Sorry to hear it--sorry indeed. And this
house? You have made it very pretty--charming little bijou residence.
Is the house your own?"

"No. We have it at a very low rental in consideration of the
improvements which father made from time to time, but it is not our own.
We think we should have no difficulty in letting it; for, as you say,
it is pretty in its way. In fact, we know of a possible tenant already,
and I think it quite likely