his attention not already engaged in the judicious breaking of his
bread. He did not answer nor did he comment; and when he had finished
eating he commenced packing up his diary and letters in a brown paper
parcel, and for three-quarters of an hour he walked up and down stairs
collecting and forgetting; finally he left the house with many
parcels.

As some days are sweet and fugitive, others are obtuse, complex, and
tortuous as nightmares--difficult to understand and well-nigh
impossible to relate. And the day after the tennis party was such a
day in the Brookes household, nor did its tumult cease when the lights
were turned out in the billiard-room. It was revived with fierce gusts
of passion and despair during several succeeding days.

In the afternoon both Sally and Maggie wanted to go out in the cart.
The wrangle was a long one, but the argument of the fist eventually
brought it to a close, and Maggie was obliged again to shut herself
into her room. Thence Grace's solicitations could not move her, and
she remained there until she saw her father coming up the drive; then
she ran down to meet him, and made a frank accusation of Sally's
treatment of her. But he was enthralled by his own woes, and without
even promising her protection and immunity, at least from her sister's
right arm, the old gentleman launched forth into more than usual
lamentations.

He had had a stormy interview with Berkins going up in the train, and
Berkins had so upset him that he had not been able to get through any
business in the City. Berkins admitted of no equivocation. He had told
him that he would not allow the young lady that was going to be his
wife to spend her days feasting and skylarking with a lot of vulgar