The Eldest Son

as a table set for tea for one-himself. There were buttered toast and dry toast and preserves, a massive silver teapot, milk jug, cream jug, and

an, in spite of his fifty-nine years and his tendency to put on flesh, and it would have taken more than a tea that was almost a meal to reduce his appetite for dinner at eight, after a day in the saddle and a lunch off sandwiches an

ers worked in silk, which had been warming in front of the fire. Only when his coat was wet or much splashed with mud did the Squire change that. He considered smoking-jackets rather effeminate, and slippers, on ordinary occasions, "sloppy." It was only in his d

tea in Mrs. Clinton's room, and he had marched across the hall with a firm and decisive step, in his red coat and buckskin bre

ng for him like this. He was a rich man, but a woman ought to work with her hands for her husband, whether he was rich or poor. It was her wifely duty, and incidentally it kept her out of mischief. Mrs. Clinton, at the age of fifty-four, with her smooth yellow-grey hair and her quiet and composed f

o put a spoonful of yolk of egg into his mouth with on

himself as infernally worried, for he was not accustom

-four last Apr

t age, unless, perhaps, he was the only one to keep a name going-as I was, of course-at least in my immediate family. But thirty-four! It'

is not thinking about

want to see the succession assured. Walter is the only one of the boys that's married, and he's only got two girls. Of course, he may have a son-they're coming pretty

y living, but had studied medicine, and was now practising in a suburb of London, and not one of the most genteel suburbs eith

od thing if Dick were to

as it is. I've no opinion of that London life, except for a bit when a man's young and before he settles down. Dick has been in the Guards now for-what?-twelve years. I never meant that he should take up soldiering as a profession. Just a few

said Mrs. Clinton, "and he take

he Squire. "The property will belong to h

d up in London life and all that goe

into the army, instead of the Foreign Office, he might have stuck to it and made a profession of it. I wish I had-into a working regiment. It would have done him all the good in the world. However, I don't want to talk about Humphrey

re came to the end of his eggs and began to attack the buttered toast, she sai

were to get married soon I need not bother about finding a tenant for it. I don't want to let it; it's too nea

Mrs. Clinton, "that Miss B

! Leave us!" he exclaimed when he had found his voice. He could hardly have been more astounded if his wife had announced that she was going to leave him, and indeed Miss Bird had lived at Kenco

. "She has felt that the children were getting beyond her,

'm quite satisfied with what Miss Bird is doing for them, and if she wants telling so, for goodness' sak

nton in her equable voice. "Her invalid sister, you know, has

ird. She's a silly old creature in some respects, but she's faithful and honest. Now we shall have to get used to somebody else. Really, when one thing goes wrong, everyth

be made, I want to make a thorough one. It is quite true that they are beyond Miss Bird, even if she could have sta

he exclaimed. "France or Germany? Nice healthy English girls-teach 'em to eat frogs and hors

or three years," she said. "I should like them now-when Miss Bird leaves u

p accounts? I don't want any spectacled, short-haired, flat-chested females in my house, thank you. The children are very well as they are. They're naughty sometimes, I've no doubt, but they're good girls on the whole. Girls ought to

hem very much,"

t them stop at home.

ilent, bending her

ss them," pursued the Squire, after

en the Squire asked, "Why do yo

e said, "if they could get the teaching they ought to have at home. Perhaps I

"I dare say old Miss Bird is a little out of date. Get a goo

ld call a blue-stocking," she said. "But she needn't show it. Clev

He was leaning back in his chair now, looking at th

Emmeline was Lady Birkett, the wife

have any of your suffragettes. Herbert is a very

e offer a good s

we pay Mi

a year. She has ne

I'm sorry for her sister. Is

id very b

Bird has saved a bit. She's had no expens

ad saved about fou

or old creature. I'll tell you what, Nina, I'll talk it over with Dick and see if we can't fix up a little

nton. "I hoped you might see your way to

o something or other," he said. "Well, get another governess

ant to get the best I can," she said.

st all annoyance over other people's follies. He laughed

" said Mrs. Clinton, "he had five pounds a week

uire. "Blake was a University man and a gent

. Clinton, "and I should like on

have it your own way and pay her what you like. Now is there any

ve extra lessons for music and drawing or anything else that they might show talent in. Joan and Nancy have both got talent. I want to

on my word!" he said, nodding his hea