The Eldest Son

t frame, sleek head, and well-fitting clothes, he looked less than his thirty-four years-was as well served as his father, although he did not get his will b

ey of over three hours. These things were all a matter of course to him. The warm bright room, red-curtained, and quiet from the deep stillness of the country, gave him no particular sensation of pleasure when he entered it, except that he was cold from his journey and there was a good fire; nor, consciously, did the fact that this was his home, which he liked better than any othe

e stages, from the little fair-haired boy in his broad collar sitting cross-legged on the grass, to the young man with folded arms in a place of honour by his tutor. There were later Cambridge groups too, exhibiting him as Master of the Drag, in the eighteenth-century dress of the True Blue Club, and in other conjunctures of pursuits and companions, but nothing to mark a later date than his University days, unless it were the big photographs in silver or tortoise-shell frames on the mantelpiece and writing-t

ere was a knock at the door, and a voic

th big blue ribbons. They had that prim air of being dressed, which is different in the case of girls not quite grown up from that of their elder sisters. They were remarkably alike and remarka

t up to the mantelpiece and stood one on eithe

id Joan, the elder, "vice the old Star

er. "Old Miss Bird leaving!

the twins generally spoke alternately. "She broke it to

ted Joan. "You blub

d Nancy, accepting the char

going for?"

r old thing!" said Joan. "And she doesn't thi

te true. We have the brains of the family, and are now going to leav

t isn't the treat that it used to be," she said. "We are getting too old for these simple pleasures. Joan is beginning to take an interest in dr

?" asked Dick, ign

ht to kiss her, if you possibly can. You are the eldest

can pass it on," said Dick, with an

on the stroke of eight Dick led his mo

of the fire. They usually read during the half-hour before they were

she'll be lik

her I should think she wou

t in her place. Of course we have always been able to do exactly as

to do that," said Joan. "We

for eccentricity," added N

an't a bit mind learning things now. I should have hated it a yea

couldn't stand it any longer. But it doesn't worry me

lder. And after all, she didn't run very far-only to Lo

there was more in tha

sharply. "Do you

th her engagement to Jim. She was married pretty soon

if we coul

wonder if Dick would drive us over to Mountfield to

Men are so silly in that way. They

's just as silly ab

omen, and we understand. If a man d

credit liking his grandchildren. I s

r persuaded him to let us have a really good governess. He'd t

thing you wanted out of father if

some t

ing, I

ocket-money that you couldn

ering about the country and riding over the hounds-eh, what? No, thank you!' I didn't mean I could make him beco

shil

ig

really can, Nancy?

. Cicely always rode old Tomm

re-backed. We should have to

to that. Anyhow,

ll you m

think out

bet you eight weeks' pocket-mo

how I get on. Now I think I'

what! Have to buy you a pair of spectacles each next time I go to Bathgate." He laughed his big laugh, drank half a glass of port, and beamed on them. He thought they were the prettiest pair of young feminine creatures he had ever seen, and so little trouble too! It was a good thing for a man to have sons to carry on his name, bu

was a short pause, and then he cleared his throat and

and took a puff at his ci

aid. "I've always given you a pretty free hand, even with the property, and all that sort of thing. I've consulted you, and you'v

rty-four. Time to thin

o think of settling down. You've had enough soldiering-much mo

et," said Dick calmly. "I'm down her

f-if-- Well, look here, Dick-no use beating

wouldn't be a bad

ick should marry, as he had enunciated them to Mrs. Clinton-his position as eldest son and heir to a fine property, his advancing age, the inadvisability of looking to Melbury Park as the cradle for a successor to

marry?" asked Dick, wi

rtunities all these years. You needn't look for money, though it's always useful. Any nice girl of good birth-of course you wouldn't want to marry one who wasn't. Good hea

you?" a

rey Meadshire would be delighted. She is his favourite granddaugh

" replied Dick. "But I don

ur grandfather were first cousins. You're su

baby. She's a baby now. It would be

be at least twenty-one. The fact is you have left it so long that an ordinary girl

before Dick asked, "Well, sho

e case of Humphrey, if she wasn't too old, and had enough money for the

e Squire brought it back to the original track, said, "Well, I'll think over wha

s plate, and his brows came together. "What do you mean?" h

ette out of his mou

ely, "it will probably be a wom

not over thirty," he said. "Girls don't marry so young as

to this, and the