"We had a pleasant fortnight's yachting," he answered. "Then I went with Hennibul to Wiesbaden, and I came on here to see you.
"Have you met Sybil and Atherstone?" she asked him.
"Yes," he answered, gravely.
"Come into my room," she said, "and I will give you some tea. These young people are sure to have it on the terrace. I will join you when I have got rid of some of this dust."
He was alone for ten minutes. At the end of that time she came out through the folding-doors with the old smile upon her lips and the old lithesomeness in her movements. He rose and watched her until she had settled down in her low chair.
"So Sybil is going to marry Atherstone!"
"Yes. He really deserves it, doesn't he? He is a very nice boy."
Arranmore shrugged his shoulders.
"What an everlasting fool Brooks is," he said, in a low tone.
"He keeps his word," she answered. "It is a family trait with you, Arranmore. You are all stubborn, all self-willed, self-centred, selfish!"