"Now, pray, drink, and do not fuss!" said Mrs. Doria.

"Mama!" Clare gasped.

Richard came forward and capitulated honourably, since retreat was out of
the question. Mrs. Doria swam to meet him: "My own boy! My dear
Richard!" profuse of exclamations. Clare shyly greeted him. Adrian kept
in the background.

"Why, we were coming for you to-day, Richard," said Mrs. Doria, smiling
effusion; and rattled on, "We want another cavalier. This is delightful!
My dear nephew! You have grown from a boy to a man. And there's down on
his lip! And what brings you here at such an hour in the morning?
Poetry, I suppose! Here, take my, arm, child.--Clare! finish that mug
and thank your cousin for sparing you the third. I always bring her,
when we are by a chalybeate, to take the waters before breakfast. We
have to get up at unearthly hours. Think, my dear boy! Mothers are
sacrifices! And so you've been alone a fortnight with your agreeable
uncle! A charming time of it you must have had! Poor Hippias! what may
be his last nostrum?"

"Nephew!" Adrian stretched his head round to the couple. "Doses of
nephew taken morning and night fourteen days! And he guarantees that it
shall destroy an iron constitution in a month."

Richard mechanically shook Adrian's hand as he spoke.

"Quite well, Ricky?"