"Because he's a successful composer?"
He looked at her and shook his head, and Sonia, knowing what he meant, blushed very prettily. Then she laughed and broke away.
"Mother has had seventeen partridges sent her as presents this week, and she wants you to help her eat them, and father's offered a bargain in some good Beaujolais, and won't decide until you tell him what you think of it."
Deftly she set out the meal, and drew a chair to the table. Angelo Fardetti rose.
"That I should love you all," said he simply, "is only human, but that you should so much love me is more than I can understand."
You see, he knew that watchful ears had missed his usual outgoing footsteps, and that watchful hearts had divined the reason. To refuse, to hesitate, would be to reject love. So there was no more to be said. He sat down meekly, and Sonia ministered to his wants. As soon as she saw that he was making headway with the partridge and the burgundy, she too sat by the table.
"Godfather," she said, "I've had splendid news this morning."
"Geoffrey?"
"Of course. What other news could be splendid? His Symphony in E flat is going to be given at the Queen's Hall."
"That is indeed beautiful news," said the old man, laying down knife and fork, "but I did not know that he had written a Symphony in E flat."