So I thought it would be rather sporting to play them at
baccarat for the loan of our cook against a money stake, and I lost,
that's all. I have had rotten luck at baccarat all this year."
The remainder of his explanation, of how he had assured the cooks that
the temporary transfer had his mother's sanction, and had smuggled the
one out and the other in during the maternal absence, was drowned in the
outcry of scandalised upbraiding.
"If I had sold the woman into slavery there couldn't have been a bigger
fuss about it," he confided afterwards to Bertie Norridrum, "and Eleanor
Saxelby raged and ramped the louder of the two. I tell you what, I'll
bet you two of the Amherst pheasants to five shillings that she refuses
to have me as a partner at the croquet tournament. We're drawn together,
you know."
This time he won his bet.
CLOVIS ON PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Marion Eggelby sat talking to Clovis on the only subject that she ever
willingly talked about--her offspring and their varied perfections and
accomplishments. Clovis was not in what could be called a receptive
mood; the younger generation of Eggelby, depicted in the glowing
improbable colours of parent impressionism, aroused in him no enthusiasm.
Mrs. Eggelby, on the other hand, was furnished with enthusiasm enough for
two.
"You would like Eric," she said, argumentatively rather than hopefully.
Clovis had intimated very unmistakably that he was unlikely to care
extravagantly for either Amy or Willie.
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