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hands； and never need to consider what others think of them。 Taking
his seat； and still perusing the paper； he at once began to eat what
was put before him； then noticing that his eldest daughter had come
in and was sitting down beside him； he said：
〃Bore having to go up in such weather！〃
〃Is it a Cabinet meeting？〃
〃Yes。 This confounded business of the balloons。〃 But the rather
anxious dark eyes of Agatha's delicate narrow face were taking in the
details of a tray for keeping dishes warm on a sideboard； and she was
thinking： 〃I believe that would be better than the ones I've got；
after all。 If William would only say whether he really likes these
large trays better than single hot…water dishes！〃 She contrived how…
ever to ask in her gentle voicefor all her words and movements were
gentle； even a little timid； till anything appeared to threaten the
welfare of her husband or children：
〃Do you think this war scare good for Eustace's prospects； Father？〃
But her father did not answer； he was greeting a new…comer； a tall；
fine…looking young man； with dark hair and a fair moustache； between
whom and himself there was no relationship； yet a certain negative
resemblance。 Claud Fresnay； Viscount Harbinger； was indeed also a
little of what is called the 'Norman' typehaving a certain firm
regularity of feature； and a slight aquilinity of nose high up on the
bridgebut that which in the elder man seemed to indicate only an
unconscious acceptance of self as a standard； in the younger man gave
an impression at once more assertive and more uneasy； as though he
were a little afraid of not chaffing something all the time。
Behind him had come in a tall woman； of full figure and fine
presence； with hair still brownLady Valleys herself。 Though her
eldest son was thirty； she was； herself； still little more than
fifty。 From her voice； manner； and whole personality； one might
suspect that she had been an acknowledged beauty； but there was now
more than a suspicion of maturity about her almost jovial face； with
its full grey…blue eyes； and coarsened complexion。 Good comrade； and
essentially 'woman of the world；' was written on every line of her；
and in every tone of her voice。 She was indeed a figure suggestive
of open air and generous living； endowed with abundant energy； and
not devoid of humour。 It was she who answered Agatha's remark。
〃Of course； my dear； the very best thing possible。〃
Lord Harbinger chimed in：
〃By the way； Brabrook's going to speak on it。 Did you ever hear him；
Lady Agatha？ 'Mr。 Speaker； Sir； I riseand with me rises the
democratic principle'〃
But Agatha only smiled； for she was thinking：
〃If I let Ann go as far as the gate； she'll only make it a stepping…
stone to something else to…morrow。〃 Taking no interest in public
affairs； her inherited craving for command had resorted for
expression to a meticulous ordering of household matters。 It was
indeed a cult with her； a passionas though she felt herself a sort
of figurehead to national domesticity； the leader of a patriotic
movement。
Lord Valleys； having finished what seemed necessary； arose。
〃Any message to your mother； Gertrude？〃
〃No； I wrote last night。〃
〃Tell Miltoun to keepan eye on that Mr。 Courtier。 I heard him
speak one dayhe's rather good。〃
Lady Valleys； who had not yet sat down； accompanied her husband to
the door。
〃By the way； I've told Mother about this woman； Geoff。〃
〃Was it necessary？〃
〃Well； I think so； I'm uneasyafter all； Mother has some influence
with Miltoun。〃
Lord Valleys shrugged his shoulders； and slightly squeezing his
wife's arm； went out。
Though himself vaguely uneasy on that very subject； he was a man who
did not go to meet disturbance。 He had the nerves which seem to be
no nerves at allespecially found in those of his class who have
much to do with horses。 He temperamentally regarded the evil of the
day as quite sufficient to it。 Moreover； his eldest son was a riddle
that he had long given up； so far as women were concerned。
Emerging into the outer hall； he lingered a moment； remembering that
he had not seen his younger and favourite daughter。
〃Lady Barbara down yet？〃 Hearing that she was not； he slipped into
the motor coat held for him by Simmons； and stepped out under the
white portico； decorated by the Caradoc hawks in stone。
The voice of little Ann reached him； clear and high above the
smothered whirring of the car。
〃Come on； Grandpapa！〃
Lord Valleys grimaced beneath his crisp moustachethe word grandpapa
always fell queerly on the ears of one who was but fifty…six； and by
no means felt itand jerking his gloved hand towards Ann； he said：
〃Send down to the lodge gate for this。〃
The voice of little Ann answered loudly：
〃No； I'm coming back by myself。〃
The car starting； drowned discussion。
Lord Valleys； motoring； somewhat pathetically illustrated the
invasion of institutions by their destroyer； Science。 A supporter of
the turf； and not long since Master of Foxhounds； most of whose soul
（outside politics） was in horses； he had been； as it were； compelled
by common sense； not only to tolerate； but to take up and even press
forward the cause of their supplanters。 His instinct of self…
preservation was secretly at work； hurrying him to his own
destruction； forcing him to persuade himself that science and her
successive victories over brute nature could be wooed into the
service of a prestige which rested on a crystallized and stationary
base。 All this keeping pace with the times； this immersion in the
results of modern discoveries； this speeding…up of existence so that
it was all surface and little rootthe increasing volatility；
cosmopolitanism； and even commercialism of his life； on which he
rather prided himself as a man of the worldwas； with a secrecy too
deep for his perception； cutting at the aloofness logically demanded
of one in his position。 Stubborn； and not spiritually subtle； though
by no means dull in practical matters； he was resolutely letting the
waters bear him on； holding the tiller firmly； without perceiving
that he was in the vortex of a whirlpool。 Indeed； his common sense
continually impelled him； against the sort of reactionaryism of which
his son Miltoun had so much； to that easier reactionaryism； which；
living on its spiritual capital； makes what material capital it can
out of its enemy； Progress。
He drove the car himself； shrewd and self…contained； sitting easily；
with his cap well drawn over those steady eyes； and though this
unexpected meeting of the Cabinet in the Whitsuntide recess was not
only a nuisance； but gave food for anxiety； he was fully able to
enjoy the swift smooth movement through the summer air； which met him
with such friendly sweetness under the great trees of the long
avenue。 Beside him； little Ann was silent； with her legs stuck out
rather wide apart。 Motoring was a new excitement； for at home it was
forbidden； and a meditative rapture shone in her wide eyes above her
sudden little nose。 Only once she spoke； when close to the lodge the
car slowed down； and they passed the lodge…keeper's little daughter。
〃Hallo；