And if Joe could see Nat in such false colours, in what roseate mist did he clothe his own, faintly ridiculous person? Mathilda thought that she could read Joe clearly enough. A failure in life, it was necessary to his selfesteem that he should see himself as a success at least in his crowning part of Peacemaker, Beloved Uncle. Yes, that would explain Joe's insistence on this dreadful family gathering.
A laugh shook Mathilda as she flung back the bedclothes, and prepared to get up. Poor old Joe, trotting from member to member of this house-party, and pouring out quarts of what he fondly believed to be balm! If he did not drive Nat at least to distraction, it would be a miracle. He was like a clumsy, well-meaning St Bernard puppy, dropped amongst a set of people who were not fond of dogs.
When she walked into the dining-room presently, Mathilda found that her first waking fears were already being fulfilled. "Good morning, Tilda! A white Christmas, after all!" Joseph said.
Nathaniel had breakfasted early, and had gone away. Mathilda sat down beside Edgar Mottisfont, and hoped that he would not think it necessary to entertain her with conversation.
He did not. Apart from some desultory comments on the weather, he said nothing. It occurred to her that he was a little ill-at-ease. She wondered why, remembered that he had wanted a private interview with Nathaniel on the previous evening, and hoped, with a sinking heart, that more trouble was not brewing.
Valerie, breakfasting on half a grape-fruit and some dry toast, and explaining why she did so, wanted to know what they were all going to do. Only Joseph seemed to welcome this desire to map out the day's amusements. Stephen said that he was going to walk; Paula declared that she never made plans; Roydon said nothing at all; and Mathilda only groaned.
"I believe there are some very pretty walks in the neighbourhood," offered Maud.
"A good tramp in the snow! Almost you tempt me, Stephen!" Joseph said, rubbing his hands together. "What does Val say, I wonder? Shall we all brave the elements, and blow the cobwebs away?"
"On second thoughts," said Stephen, "I shall stay indoors." Joseph bore up under the offensiveness of this remark, merely wagging his head, and saying with a laugh: "Someone got out of bed on the wrong side this morning!"
"Aren't you going to read your play to us, Willoughby?" asked Valerie, turning her large blue eyes in his direction.