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make of it! You would think he had rounded Cape Horn in a hurricane!’
    Dinner had taken so long that tea was brought in almost at once, and afterwards Jemima was just about to propose whist for the entertainment of their guest when Mary Ann rose to retire, and Hobsbawn said, 'Yes, you're right, my love, it's time we were all a-bed. Do you say prayers, Lady Morland?’
    Jemima rose too, seeing out of the corner of her eye the looks of amazement from James and Mary, for it was not yet nine o'clock, and forestalling them by saying, 'Yes, indeed. Shall we go to the chapel? Father Thomas, will you lead the way?’
    James seized her arm in the hallway to protest. 'Really, Mother, are we to go to bed at this hour every night, just because he says so? I won't stand for it!'
    ‘Don't make such a fuss, Jamie. Remember, his habits are probably very different from ours, from having to supervise his factories at all sorts of strange hours. Besides, once he has gone up, there is no reason why you should not sit up, if you want to.’
    James muttered something inaudible, but probably uncomplimentary, and Jemima spoke to him sharply, in a low voice.
    ‘ Jamie, he is a good, kind man„ and adores his daughter, and is prepared to be very generous about settlements. I insist that you treat him with respect. I won't have you being impolite to any guest in this house, least of all to –'
    ‘ Our saviour?' James interrupted sourly. 'The man whose money is to build you your new stables?' He regretted the words instantly, and his mother's look made him feel ashamed. 'I'm sorry,' he said, before she could reply.
    Jemima looked at him with a mixture of anger and pain. ’Jamie, what is the matter with you?'
    ‘You know the answer to that,' he muttered.
    ‘ I don't know. You chose this marriage yourself. No-one forced it on you – it was your own suggestion. And you seemed so pleased with the baby –’
    James made a restless movement of his head. 'Leave me alone, Mother, please.' And he walked away before her into the chapel, leaving Jemima to stare after him in dissatisfac tion.

    *
    Edward and Jemima were always up at dawn, and usually took a first breakfast of bread and chocolate together, before going off to their early morning tasks. Edward was a restful companion, not inclined to be talkative, and the world was quiet, except for the sounds of waking nature, and Jemima valued this peaceful time, when the world seemed hers, and there was space to breathe deeply and compose oneself.
    It took self-control, therefore, to greet Mr Hobsbawn warmly when he appeared in the hall just as she was about to go out. He, too, was an early riser, and since politeness could not admit of leaving him to his own devices, there was nothing to be done but to propose shewing him round the pleasure-grounds.
    They made a circuit of the moat, followed hopefully by the swans, who had not yet been fed, and Mr Hobsbawn was shewn the rose garden, the Italian garden, the Long Walk, the orchards, and the American garden, before returning by the barbican and the courtyard in time for morning mass. This was followed by breakfast proper, to which everyone had come down. Mr Hobsbawn approved the number of dishes spread, and ate heartily of smoked cod, mutton chops, sausages, and fat pork fried with onions, which he helped down with a quart of small beer. He was evidently curious about his son-in-law, and tried several times to engage him in conversation, but James was more than equal to frustrating his design. Mr Hobsbawn was obliged at last to leave off, without having formed any more certain opinion of James than that he ate too slight a breakfast – buttered eggs and toast, only enough for a woman — and that he was like to ruin his nerves and digestion by washing it down with coffee.
    They were still sitting amongst the bones and eggshells when Oxhey came in to say that Pobgee, the lawyer, had arrived, and was waiting in the steward's room.
    ‘ Well sir,' said