This reiterated observation seemed to give Ronald food for thought. He began to see that Colin might be speaking ironically; he did sometimes. But his glass was full again, and it was wiser not to pursue an uncomfortable topic at a convivial hour. Better to be genial and companionable. “And if you haven’t filled up my glass again!” he said. “Well, Stanier was always a hospitable house, and very worthily, my dear fellow, you carry on the tradition.” Colin got up. Uncle Ronald’s little doxology might be brought to bear on the hospitality he had enjoyed for so many years. “Kind of you to say so, but I have my limits,” he observed. “Perhaps you had better finish your wine, Uncle Ronald, or we shall have my grandmother back looking for you. You mustn’t leave her, as you said just now.” Ronald got to his feet. He was still a little lame, and Colin moved towards him. “You’d better take my arm,” he said. “Or Aunt Margaret will see you’ve had another glass of port without anybody telling her.” Ronald gave his gross chuckle. “That would be a singular thing,” he said, “if a Stanier couldn’t carry the drop of wine I’ve drunk without inconvenience. It’s only the fag-end of my attack of gout that makes me lame.” Colin, however, pressed a friendly arm on him, and together they went into the gallery. “Granny dear, we’ve left you a long time,” said he, “but Uncle Ronald was so amusing that I couldn’t tear myself away. Now, Uncle Ronald, you sit quietly there on the sofa.” Colin steered his uncle to the sofa, thus conveying the impression that there was need for guidance. “Now, Granny,” he said, “we’ll get to our whist. Whom shall we ask to play with us? Here’s Violet and Aunt Margaret; oh, that leaves Aunt Hester out.” Aunt Hester instantly disclaimed any desire to play. She had got hold of a number of ‘_Vogue_,’ with a very dainty picture of a young lady on the cover, with a hat that she thought would suit her.... At half-past ten old Lady Yardley’s bath-chair was wheeled in for her, and as soon as the second rubber came to an end she was taken off. Ronald had already left his sofa and drifted away, without doubt to the smoking-room. Aunt Hester, who had cut into the second rubber, gathered up her winnings. “And I’ll be off, too,” she said, “or I shall lose my beauty-sleep. Bless me, have I won all those silver shillings! Somebody will want to marry me for my money.” “Aunt Hester knows that every handsome young man in London would like to marry her if she hadn’t a penny,” observed Colin. “You’re a sad rascal,” said Aunt Hester, fearfully pleased. “Goodnight, everybody.” Aunt Margaret followed, and Violet would have done so, but at the door Colin stopped her. “Not five minutes’ chat, Vi?” he said. “I haven’t had a word with you all the evening.... Ah, that’s dear of you. Come out on the terrace. Let’s take a stroll. I want to talk to you.” “Anything special?” asked Violet.