"I hope I have not upset any plans for the day by sending for you; but—You have not been overworking yourself of late, have you?"
"Thank you, no," Reggie said, choosing to ignore the sarcasm, if any were intended.
"You're looking very nice, and fit, I'm sure. That brown velvet coat is the latest, I suppose? Looks a little as if you were thinking of giving up Beer for the Arts, eh? I've been wondering if you'd like to travel for a year?"
Reggie sat down and stared at his brother, with a perplexed vacuity of eye. This was not at all what he had expected. He thought of Deleah in a flash. If Deleah would marry him and go with him, the very thing!
"You haven't been about the world very much," the brother went on.
"Neither have I, you will say. But I can't be spared. You—perhaps—can.
We will try, at any rate, to carry on the business without you."
Reggie, accepting the remark in all seriousness, nodded a solemn head in silence.
"You might even combine business with pleasure, which I am sure would meet with your approval."
"When do you want me to go? I can't be ready for some little time."
"Why not? If you go at all I want you to go at once."
"What do you call at once?"