The Blotting Book

al attention which has, originally in any case, been spent on the production of the smoothness. Everything moved with the regularity of the solar system, and, superior to that wild rush of

hospitable doors till when, on their leaving them, their coats were held for them in the most convenient possible manner for the easy insertion of the human arm, and the tails of their dinner-coats cunningly and unerringly tweaked from behind. In every way in fact the house was an example of perfect comfort; the softest carpets overlaid the floors, or, where the polished wood was left bare, the parquetry shone with a moonlike radiance; the newest and most entertai

and the formality that indicated it on the part of those who ministered at her table, and enjoyed such excellent wages. This pretty old-fashioned custom had always been the rule in her own home, and her husband had always had it practised during his life. And since then-his death had occurred some twenty years ago-nothing that she knew of had happened to make it less proper or desirable. Kind of heart and warm of soul though she was, she saw no reason for letting these excellent qualities cover any slackness or breach of observance in the social form of life to which she had been accustomed. There was no cause, because one was kind and wise, to eat with badly cleaned silver, unless the parlour-maid whose office it was to clean i

ough she did not propose to change her ways and manner of life herself, she was notoriously sympathetic with the changed life of the younger generation, and in consequence had the confidence of young folk generally. At this moment sh

ld go for a drive in his car. Don't you remember, Mr. Taynton? Mother's nose did go in the air. It's no use denying it. So I thought, perhaps, that she wouldn't like my

been using, and was gravely exploding the shells of the nuts he had helped himself

lish of you. Give Mr. Morris another nut

?" asked he, cr

t in the air? I'm sure Mr. Taynton will agree with me that that is really libellous. And as for your being af

ed a comfortable

rris's bank doesn't tell us that his account is overdrawn, he can do what he

Mr. Taynton," said the boy. "I

re supposed to be sharp-faced and fox-like, but his face was well-furnishe

I cannot honour either you or this wonderful port

s to the health he had so neat

"Mother, do send the port roun

ssheto

more hospitable than m

am afraid you must, if you ar

the two men rose too. She had been sitting ne

do you think I may come over to-morrow, in the af

aused a

we shall be away all day. We s

d I leave again on Friday. Do l

Assheton

Madge before she goes and we don't want you. Look after Mr. Tayn

ill a year or two short of sixty, and but for his very bald and shining head would have seemed younger, so fresh was he in complexion, so active, despite a certain reassuring corpulency, was he in his movements. But when he dined quietly like this, at Mrs. Assheton's, he would willingly have sacrificed the next five years of his life if he could have been assured on really reliable authority-the authority for instance of the Recording Angel-that in five years time he would be able to sit quiet and not work any more. He wanted very mu

or himself, having previ

Tayn

is is all right. It was laid down the year I was b

he frivolous cigarette, should burn in a room where such port was being drunk was sheer crime against human

ck me, when you prefer tobacco to this nectar, I assure y

s lau

h the most gorgeous pace. I saw one policeman trying to take my number, but we raised such a dust, I don't think

hed, gently and

the proper gait for older folk. And that, I fancy is just what Mrs. Assheton felt. She would feel it to be as unnatural in you to care to drive with her in h

man-servant. Mr. Taynton, with the port still by him, refused it, but looked rather curiously at the s

ther's?" he asked, when t

him, which isn't very often. Chauffeurs are such rotters, aren't they? Regular chauffeurs I mean. They always make

neralities but went back to what he had been s

ut now I think young fellows grow up more quickly, and at twenty-two, you are a man nowadays, and I think it is time for you, since my trusteeship for you may end any day now, to take a rat

ort again, and Mr. Tay

"and before my stewardship comes to an end, which it will do a

s that?" as

ur mother's consent, and after your twenty-second birthday, puts you in complete control and possession of you

er cigarette rat

r the age of twenty-two, I became a major, or whatever you call it. But what then? Do let us go and play billia

fist gently ta

er and I are trustees. The sum he left you was thirty thousand pounds. It is now rather over forty thousand pounds, since we have changed the investments from time to time, and always, I am glad to say, with satisfactory results. The value of her property has gone up also in a corr

s lau

ion has increased in value by ten thousand pounds. I am de

aynton let a perceptible paus

ility of your marr

im a quick, e

ossibility," he said. "I hope

oy-" said

word. I d

ent vitality was his also; his was the hot blood that could do any deed when the life-instinct commanded it. He looked like one of those who could give their body to be burned in the pursuit of an idea, or could as easily steal, or kill, provided only the deed was vitally done in the heat of his blood. Violence was clearly his mode of life: the motor had to go sixty miles an hour; he mi

pushed his chair back and s

d barbarian, who likes only to drive golfballs and motorcars. She-oh, it's

used

ven the whole sh

of noise. It was compounded of lau

long ago, my dea

gain with the same quickness and violence of mo

you. I never saw a more delightful girl. Professionally also, I feel bound to add that it seems to me a most proper all

ht of money or of property could be mentioned in the same breath as that whi

said. "I-I don't think you unde

blecloth for a moment with

office, looking into the account of my stewardship? There was thirty thousand pounds, and there now is-or should we say 'are'-forty. It will take you not less than two hours, and not more than three. But since my stewardship may come to an end, as I sai

usinesslike. Mr. Taynton had been, as he knew, a friend of his father's, and, as he had said, he had

to anything. And when, Mr. Taynton, I become steward of my own affairs, you may be quite certain that I shall beg you to continue looking after them. Why you gained me ten thousand pounds in these twenty years-I wonder what there would have been to my credit now if I had looked after things mysel

at the young fell

for my stewardship, which you are entitled to assume for yourself on your marriage, though of course its continuance in my hands is not forbidden in your father's will? You are q

rsonality, so to speak, that, as his mouth framed these words, was watching Morris rather narrowly a

isn't it? In twenty years you make me ten thousand pounds, and I only pay you ￡200 a year for it. Please be kind, Mr

oment, playing with his wine gl

with pleasure do as

awfully. Do come a

es, and the game (though he received twenty-five) left Mr. Taynton half a crown the poorer. Then the winner whirled his guest upstairs again to talk to his mother while he hims

amination into the internal economy of the beloved, and was just

you did to-night. And when there are guests of mine here I want you to look after them. For instance, when Mr.

ton was already engaged in the staid excitements of backgammon with his mother

my way out of this house often enough, I should think. Good night, Mrs. Assheton.

e bell, said good night, and had thrown again before the door had closed b

attention, and then glanced round to see

d Martin now," he

s,

ised you

s a shor

o tell Mr. Morri

ago for theft?" said Mr. Taynton quie

ed at him again

rtin, I hope you have really turned over a new leaf, and are living honestly now. That is