He gave way, but with a discontent which took the pleasure out of it. Another time he remarked to his sister—
“Can’t you give Claudia a hint not to be so tremendously excited about the band in church? She talked of it to Dawson till he must suppose she comes from the wilds.”
Something in his tone made Mrs Leslie look at him in dismay.
“Arthur,” she said impressively, “you are not getting tired of her, are you?”
He turned angrily upon her.
“Tired! Rubbish!”
She went on, disregarding.
“It would be simply disgraceful. I should be ashamed to look any one in the face. First Helen Arbuthnot, and then this poor girl.”
“Have you done?” he said savagely. “No. I mean to speak. I must. I have thought at times, I own, that in spite of the break off between you and Helen, you had a sneaking kindness for each other, but now you have both split away in different directions, so that is quite at an end.”
“She’s not married yet, and I don’t believe she can like that idiot,” growled Fenwick.