“Two men from Peabody’s fetched it an hour ago, my lady,” Mr. Marchbanks explained.
“Without my permission,” stormed his mistress.
“I had no instructions, my lady,” said Mr. Marchbanks. “I was under the impression that it was the property of the young painting gentleman.”
“You were under the impression!”
“Caroline,” said Cheriton gravely, “if you have not been properly scored off it looks uncommonly like it. Young fellow evidently didn’t allow the grass to grow under his feet. He said he would send for it to-morrow, but he seems to have changed his mind. But, in my humble judgment, if you must blame anybody you will do well to blame George. If he hadn’t been so devilish interesting on the subject of the Militia it would never have happened.”
CHAPTER XVI
HYDE PARK
LITTLE recked Jim Lascelles of the train of circumstances which enabled his precious half-finished work to return to its maker. When it arrived at his hermitage at Balham that afternoon, he merely saw in its premature return an additional affront. He took it for granted that the old woman of Hill Street had ordered it out of the house.
“An absolutely inconceivable old cat,” Jim assured his mother with great truculence.
“I am afraid so, my son,” said his mother, sagely. “Power is so bad for poor Female Us.”
“She has ruined me,” said Jim, miserably. “She and that infernal temper of mine.”