She turned for an instant, looking at him with scorn.
“Nothing!” she said. “It’s too late.”
They went in to dinner.
It was fortunate that Grandfather was hungry; he did not, it seems, notice Philip’s absence.
“Very nice to see you down, Father,” Mrs. Trenchard said pleasantly. “Very nice for us all.”
“Thank ye, my dear. Very agreeable—very agreeable. Quite myself this evening. That rheumatism passed away, so I said to Rocket, ‘Well, ’pon my word, Rocket, I think I’ll come down to-night’ Livelier for us all to be together. Hope Katie isn’t ill, though?”
“No—no—nothing at all.”
“I saw her this morning. She seemed quite well.”
“A little headache, Father dear. She thought she was better by herself.”
“Dear Katie—never do to have her ill. Well, George. What’s the matter with ’ee? Looking quite hipped. Dig your father in the ribs, Millie, my dear, and cheer him up a bit.”