"Come and have tea. We shall not bother our heads about them. They are, fortunately, well able to take care of themselves."
Antony led the way to the library, where the tea was laid out.
I never have sat in such a comfortable sofa or felt more cosily at home. Everything pleased me. All is in perfect taste.
Antony talked to me gayly as he gave me some tea. It was as if he wanted to remove the least feeling of awkwardness this unusual situation might possibly cause me to feel.
Ulfus, Belfus, and Bedevere had followed us, and now lay, like three grim guardians, upon the tiger-skin hearth-rug.
"How is your arm?" I asked.
"Oh, that is all right. I had the shot taken out and it has quite healed up. Wonderful escape we had that day!" And he laughed.
"And you were so good about it! Augustus said he would have shot back if Mr. Dodd had hit him."
"Mrs. Dodd would have made a nice target. One does not often come across a person like that. Are all your guests at Ledstone of the same sort as those I met?"
"No. Some of them are worse," I replied, gravely, smiling at him. "Next time you shall come to an earlier party. You would enjoy that." And I laughed, thinking of the first batch of relations we had entertained.