Things were not looking quite so badly as he expected. There was just the little bit of expiring fire in the grate which he liked, even in summer. His sealskin slippers were on the hearth-rug, and his easy-chair was pushed into its proper place. "Ha! Crozier, at last! Here, get off this coat, and these mufflers, and---- I was d----d near dying in that vile chaise. I don't remember how they got me into the inn. There, don't mind condoling. You're privileged, but don't do that. As near dying as possible--rather an awkward business for useless old servants here, if I had. I'll dress in the next room. My son's coming this evening. Admit him, mind. I'll see him. How long is it since we met last? Two years, egad! And Lord Wynderbroke has his dinner here--I don't know what day, but some day very soon--Friday, I think; and don't let the people here go to sleep. Remember!" And so on, with his old servant, he talked, and sneered, and snarled, and established himself in his sitting-room, with his reviews, and his wine, and his newspapers. Night fell over dark Mortlake Hall, and over the blazing city of London. Sir Reginald listened, every now and then, for the approach of his son. Talk as he might, he did expect something--and a great deal--from the coming interview. Two years without a home, without an allowance, with no provision except a hundred and fifty pounds a year, might well have tamed that wilful beast! With the tremor of acute suspense, the old man watched and listened. Was it a good or an ill sign, his being so late? The city of London, with its still roaring traffic and blaze of gas-lamps, did not contrast more powerfully with the silent shadows of the forest-grounds of Mortlake, than did the drawing-room of Lady May Penrose, brilliant with a profusion of light, and resonant with the gay conversation of inmates, all disposed to enjoy themselves, with the dim and vast room in which Sir Reginald sat silently communing with his own dismal thoughts. Nothing so contagious as gaiety. Alice Arden, laughingly, was "making her book" rather prematurely in dozens of pairs of gloves, for the Derby. Lord Wynderbroke was deep in it. So was Vivian Darnley. "Your brother and I are to take the reins, turn about, Lady May says. He's a crack whip. He's better than I, I think," said Vivian to Alice Arden. "You mustn't upset us, though. I am so afraid of you crack whips!" said Alice. "Nor let your horses run away with us; I've been twice run away with already." "I don't the least wonder at Miss Arden's being run away with very often," said Lord Wynderbroke, with all the archness of a polite man of fifty. "Very prettily said, Wynderbroke," smiled Lady May. "And where is your brother? I thought he'd have turned up to-night," asked she of Alice. "I quite forgot. He was to see papa this evening. They wanted to talk over something together." "Oh, I see!" said Lady May, and she became thoughtful.