the moral. On this particular occasion the prospect was particularly
unpleasant, for his father would, he was well aware, overflow with
awful politeness, indeed, after the scene of the morning, it could not
be otherwise. Oh, how much rather would he have spent that lovely
afternoon with Maria Lee! Dear Maria, he would go and see her again
the very next day.

When he arrived, some ten minutes after time in the antler-hung hall
of the Abbey House, he found his father standing, watch in hand,
exactly under the big clock, as though he was determined to make a
note by double entry of every passing second.

"When I asked you to walk with me this afternoon, Philip, I, if my
memory does not deceive me, was careful to say that I had no wish to
interfere with any prior engagement. I was aware how little interest,
compared to your cousin George, you take in the estate, and I had no
wish to impose an uncongenial task. But, as you kindly volunteered to
accompany me, I regret that you did not find it convenient to be
punctual to the time you fixed. I have now waited for you for
seventeen minutes, and let me tell you that at my time of life I
cannot afford to lose seventeen minutes. May I ask what has delayed
you?"

This long speech had given Philip the opportunity of recovering the
breath that he had lost in running home. He replied promptly--

"I have been lunching with Miss Lee."

"Oh, indeed, then I no longer wonder that you kept me waiting, and I
must say that in this particular I commend your taste. Miss Lee is a