"She looks her age, every day of it," Mrs Grantly persisted. "When we bring her back she'll look like Mary's sister!" "How long do you propose to be away?" "Oh, three weeks or a month; at the most a fortnight less than you have had every year for nineteen years." Mr Ffolliot made no answer; he took out his cigarette case and lit a cigarette with hands that were not quite steady. "You quite understand then, Hilary, that you are to put the whole weight of your authority into the scale that holds France for Margie?" "I thought you said it was settled?" "My dear man, you know what a goose she is; if she thought you hated it, nothing would induce her to go--you _must_ consider her for once." "I really must protest," Mr Ffolliot said stiffly, "against your gratuitous assumption that _I_ care nothing for Margie's welfare." "Not at all," Mrs Grantly said smoothly, "I only ask for a modest manifestation of your devotion, that's all." "Shall I go to her now?" said Mr Ffolliot with the air of a lamb led to the slaughter. "Certainly not--she'll probably be trying to get up lest you should want her for anything. _I'll_ go and keep her in bed till luncheon. You may come and see her at eleven." When Fusby came in for the breakfast tray, Mr Ffolliot was still standing on the hearth-rug immersed in thought. CHAPTER XIX MARY AND HER FATHER In the lives of even the strongest and most competent among us, there will arise moments when decision of any kind has become impossible, and it is a real relief to have those about us who settle everything without asking whether we like it or not. Such times are almost always the result of physical debility, when the enfeebled body so reacts upon brain and spirit that no matter how vigorous the one or valorous the other, both seem atrophied. It is at such times that we have cause to bless the doctor who is a strong man, and fears not to give orders or talk straight talk; and the relations who never so much as mention any plan till it has been decided, taking for granted we will approve the arrangements they have made. We are generally acquiescent, for it is so blessed to drift passively in the wake of these determined ones, till such time as, with returning physical strength, the will asserts itself once more. Thus it fell out that Mrs Ffolliot was surprisingly submissive when she was told by the doctor, a plain-spoken country doctor, who did not mince his words, that she must seize the chance offered of going to the South of France with her parents, or he wouldn't answer for the consequences. "You are," he said, "looking yellow and dowdy, and you are feeling blue and hysterical; if you don't go away at once you'll go on doing both for an interminable time." Mrs Ffolliot laughed. "Then I suppose for the sake of the rest of the family I ought to go"--and she went.