It was said in the neighbourhood that the de Cressiers were the proudest people in the county. They had lived at Thanning Towers since the Norman Conquest, and had refused several peerages, for their menkind had been of great service to their country and king. The present Henry de Cressiers had been stricken down a year ago in the hunting field, and he lay a helpless paralysed invalid; but his voice was left him, and his brain, though the latter was enfeebled. The eldest son and heir had been drowned out in America in that same year, and Austin, the second one, had been summoned home from the university to manage his father's estate and try to keep an eye upon a very unsatisfactory agent, whom Mr. de Cressiers would not discharge. Nearly all the de Cressiers were good-looking, dark men, with strong wills and stern self-repressed natures. Austin often declared he must be a changeling, for his pride was nil, and he was one of the sunniest and most warm-hearted of mortals. As a small boy he had been devoted to Sidney, who was a distant cousin, her mother having been a de Cressiers, and his devotion was still as great. Mrs. de Cressiers kissed Sidney affectionately. There were few people round who did not like the girl. Perhaps her attraction was chiefly in her intense interest in everyone and their affairs. Her nature was essentially a sympathetic one. "My dear Sidney, I want to borrow you for a couple of nights. We have two big dinners on, and I want your help at them." Sidney made a little grimace. "Eating is such a farce this hot weather. Why don't you turn them into moonlight suppers up the river?" Austin chuckled. His mother looked scandalised. And then Sidney laid her hand caressingly on her arm. "Of course I will come, if dad thinks he can spare me. Is he to be asked?" "I have asked him already. He won't come. We must have your uncle." "You won't get him, I am afraid. He is going up the river for a week's fishing to-morrow." "I want another man badly." "Monnie has a cousin staying with her. Ask him." "But then I should have to include her, and I don't want another woman." "I'll stay at home. Why did you ask me?" "Sidney, don't be silly. I really need you." A little pucker of Mrs. de Cressiers' eyebrows made Sidney drop her bantering tone. "Monnie won't dine with you. She hates a lot of people, and she'll be very glad to get rid of her visitor. Just explain it to her; she will understand." "But what is her cousin like?" "Is he county or cockney?" interrupted Austin. "Has he a long enough pedigree to eat salt with us, and has he an immaculate dress-suit?" "He is one of the Nevilles," said Sidney, shaking her head reprovingly at him, for one of his mother's failings was a lack of humour. "Dad will tell you his pedigree. He's an ex-M.P. and a failure."