'I'm not sure that it isn't my duty to offer him a couple of
hundred a year on condition that he writes no more.'

Milvain, with a clear vision of his friend in London, burst into
laughter. But at that point Alfred rose from his chair.

'Shall we rejoin the ladies?' he said, with a certain pedantry

of phrase and manner which often characterised him.

'Think over your ways whilst you're still young,' said John as he
shook hands with his visitor.

'Your brother speaks quite seriously, I suppose?' Jasper remarked
when he was in the garden with Alfred.

'I think so. It's amusing now and then, but gets rather tiresome
when you hear it often. By-the-bye, you are not personally
acquainted with Mr Fadge?'

'I didn't even know his name until you mentioned it.'

'The most malicious man in the literary world. There's no
uncharitableness in feeling a certain pleasure when he gets into
a scrape. I could tell you incredible stories about him; but that
kind of thing is probably as little to your taste as it is to
mine.'

Miss Harrow and her companions, having caught sight of the pair,
came towards them. Tea was to be brought out into the garden.