And having pushed George into a large armchair, he sat down opposite him and blinked nervously.
“I wanted to see you very particularly,” said George.
“Oh!” said Lord Caterham faintly, and his heart sank, whilst his mind raced actively over all the dread possibilities that might lie behind that simple phrase.
“ Very particularly,” said George with heavy emphasis.
Lord Caterham’s heart sank lower than ever. He felt that something was coming worse than anything he had yet thought of.
“Yes?” he said, with a courageous attempt at nonchalance.
“Is Eileen at home?”
Lord Caterham felt reprieved, but slightly surprised.
“Yes, yes,” he said. “Bundle’s here. Got that friend of hers with her—the little Wade girl. Very nice girl— very nice girl. Going to be quite a good golfer one day. Nice easy swing—”
He was chatting garrulously on when George interrupted with ruthlessness:
“I am glad Eileen is at home. Perhaps I might have an interview with her presently?”
“Certainly, my dear fellow, certainly.” Lord Caterham still felt very surprised, but was still enjoying the sensation of reprieve. “If it doesn’t bore you.”
“Nothing could bore me less,” said George. “I think, Caterham, if I may say so, that you hardly appreciate the fact that Eileen is grown up. She is