"Oh," said Miss Wix, with acidulated humour, "he says two months are quite long enough to find out all Cynthia's virtues, Louisa!"
"I didn't hear him say anything of the sort," Said Mrs. Walford crossly. "Well, what is it about? Tell us!"
He felt awkward and embarrassed.
"I can't explain a plot; I'm very stupid at it," he said. "You shall have a copy the moment it is published, mater, and read the thing."
"I do wish he'd call me 'mamma'!" she cried. "He makes me feel a hundred years old."
To change the subject, he inquired if she had read Henry James's new book.
"I don't know," she said. "Oh yes, they sent it me from the library this week. It isn't bad; I didn't like it much. Did you read it, Cæsar?"
Cæsar became conscious that people talked.
"Read?" he echoed wearily. "Read what?"
"Henry James's last. I forget what it was called——Something. I saw you with it the other day. A red book."