Presently, he heard the Venus Annodomini saying:—“Do you know that your son is one of my most devoted admirers?”
“I don't wonder,” said “Young” Gayerson. Here he raised his voice:—“He follows his father's footsteps. Didn't I worship the ground you trod on, ever so long ago, Kitty—and you haven't changed since then. How strange it all seems!”
“Very Young” Gayerson said nothing. His conversation with the daughter of the Venus Annodomini was, through the rest of the call, fragmentary and disjointed..........
“At five, tomorrow then,” said the Venus Annodomini. “And mind you are punctual.”
“At five punctual,” said “Young” Gayerson. “You can lend your old father a horse I dare say, youngster, can't you? I'm going for a ride tomorrow afternoon.”
“Certainly,” said “Very Young” Gayerson. “I am going down tomorrow morning. My ponies are at your service, Sir.”
The Venus Annodomini looked at him across the half-light of the room, and her big gray eyes filled with moisture. She rose and shook hands with him.
“Goodbye, Tom,” whispered the Venus Annodomini.