"Yes. Why not?"

"But--Mother, this is rather astounding. . . . Does this mean there
are estates somewhere, responsibilities?"

"It is just money. Investments."

"You know, I've imagined--. I've thought always I should have to DO
something."

"You MUST do something, Poff. But it needn't be for a living. The
world is yours without that. And so you see you've got to make
plans. You've got to know the sort of people who'll have things in
their hands. You've got to keep out of--holes and corners. You've
got to think of Parliament and abroad. There's the army, there's
diplomacy. There's the Empire. You can be a Cecil Rhodes if you
like. You can be a Winston. . . ."



5


Perhaps it was only the innate eagerness of Lady Marayne which made
her feel disappointed in her son's outlook upon life. He did not
choose among his glittering possibilities, he did not say what he
was going to be, proconsul, ambassador, statesman, for days. And he
talked VAGUELY of wanting to do something fine, but all in a fog. A
boy of nearly nineteen ought to have at least the beginnings of
SAVOIR FAIRE.