“How I love family quarrels! By the way, where’s Mr. Lane?” said Guy.
“Playing golf,” answered the Doña curtly.
“The glorious life he leads! ‘The apples fall about his head!’ He does lead an amazingly beautiful life.”
“‘Beautiful,’ Guy?” and the Doña turned on him the look of pitying wonder his remarks were apt to arouse in her.
“Yes, successful, middle-aged business men,” cried Guy excitedly, beginning to wave his hands up and down, “they’re the only happy people ... they’re like Keats’ Nightingale, ‘no hungry generations tread them down, singing of....’”
“I’m not so sure of that,” laughed Arnold. “We’re certainly hungry, and we often trample on him—if that’s what it means,” and, getting up, he yawned, stretched himself, and, seizing the Doña’s hand, said, “Come and show me the garden.”
The Doña flushed with pleasure, and they strolled off towards the border, whither they were shortly followed by Concha.
Teresa and Guy sat on by the tea-table.
“I quite agree with you,” she said presently. “Dad’s life is pleasant to contemplate. Somehow, he belongs to this planet—he manages to be happy.”