"Perhaps. In that case the subject must be approached with the greatest delicacy. Dick's method is to begin with a bludgeon."
"We must think of his mother first," said Molly. "We have been working all along for his mother."
"My dear young lady, you do not understand the situation. Because we must think first of his mother, and for no other reason, we must advance with caution. Had we not to consider the mother, there would be no reason for delicacy at all. And now, if you will not interrupt, I will go on."
The warning was now necessary, because the time had arrived for the final appeal. If that failed, anything might happen.
"We must consider, dear madam, the character, in the first place, of your son, and in the next place, the conditions of his education and position. As regards his character, he has inherited the artistic nature of his father, to begin with. That is shown in everything he does in his music and musical composition."
"I have heard him sing a song of his own composition," said Molly. "It had neither meaning nor melody; he said that it only appealed to the higher culture."
"Once more"—but he spoke in vain—"I say, then, that he has inherited his father's artistic nature. He sings and plays; he paints——"
"Landscapes of impossible colour," said Molly.
"And writes verses. He has a fine taste in the newer arts, such as decoration, bookbinding, furniture——"
"And champagne."