"
She stopped before the expression on Miltoun's face.
"You go too fast," he said; "I may become a free spirit yet."
To this saying, which seemed to her cryptic and sinister, Lady Valleys
did not know what to answer.
"If you feel, as you say," Lord Valleys began once more, "that the
bottom has been knocked out of things for you by this--this affair,
don't, for goodness' sake, do anything in a hurry. Wait! Go abroad! Get
your balance back! You'll find the thing settle itself in a few months.
Don't precipitate matters; you can make your health an excuse to miss
the Autumn session."
Lady Valleys chimed in eagerly
"You really are seeing the thing out of all proportion. What is a
love-affair. My dear boy, do you suppose for a moment anyone would think
the worse of you, even if they knew? And really not a soul need know."
"It has not occurred to me to consider what they would think."
"Then," cried Lady Valleys, nettled, "it's simply your own pride."
"You have said."
Lord Valleys, who had turned away, spoke in an almost tragic voice
"I did not think that on a point of honour I should differ from my son."
Catching at the word honour, Lady Valleys cried suddenly:
"Eustace, promise me, before you do anything, to consult your Uncle
Dennis."
Miltoun smiled.
"This becomes comic," he said.
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