'You are paying me a very bad compliment, Audrey,' returned Dr. Ross with a smile. 'You are telling me that I am too much of an old fogey to wait on ladies. Mike is the younger man, of course, and if you should prefer that he should help you to madeira——'
'No, father, it is not that; but it is for me to wait on you. You must never, never do that for me again.'
And somehow Dr. Ross seemed to have no answer ready as he went back to his chair.
But when she was alone with her mother she spoke still more plainly. Mrs. Ross had persuaded her to take the corner of the couch; but as she stood by her manipulating the cushions and adjusting them more comfortably, Audrey turned round quickly and took hold of her hands.
'Mother, do please sit down. I think you have all entered into a conspiracy to-night to kill me with kindness.'
'We are so sorry for you, darling.'
'Perhaps I am sorry for myself; but is that any reason why I should be treated as though I had lost the use of my limbs? I want you to behave to me as usual; it will be far better for me and you too. Why did not father and Michael talk politics, instead of making little cut-and-dried speeches that seemed to fit into nothing?'
'I daresay they found it very difficult to talk at all under the circumstances.'
'That sounds as though I had better have remained upstairs, as Michael suggested; indeed, I must do so if you will persist in regarding me as the skeleton at the feast.'
'My darling child, how you talk! Surely you will allow your parents to share your sorrow?'