"Fairly fresh," Arthur agreed. "Jolly place, this."
"Yes, fine place," his uncle admitted.
Arthur, remembering that his uncle was the eldest son, and would probably inherit the property, decided that he was a person to be propitiated. Also, he seemed, on the whole, to be less inimical than the others.
When they reached the dining-room, Arthur had his first sight of the founder and head of the House of Kenyon.
He was already seated at the far end of the long, narrow table, and as the family went to their places he watched them with a calm paternal smile of satisfaction. Then, almost by chance it seemed, his glance rested on the new-comer, and his expression changed to one of more vivid interest. He made a slight inclination of the head in Arthur's direction, and turning to his daughter-in-law said in a clear, thin voice:—
"Hannah! Bring Arthur Woodroffe up and introduce him to me."
He called it an introduction, but there was, Arthur thought, a dignity about the formal request that gave the function almost the air of a presentation.
But here, at least, was no sign of that aloofness which had marked his reception by the rest of the family. The old man was gracious and friendly.
"Eleanor gave me your message," he said. "I'm so glad that you will be able to stay with us for a few days. We must have a talk. I want to hear something of your experiences in the war. But not to-night." His smile had again that gentle, paternal quality as he concluded with a nod of dismissal. "You must indulge the humours of a very old man, and let me choose my own time."
Arthur went back to his place at the other end of the table, with a faint sense of awe.