So
without malice prepense he stung poor Cecil by observing that it was
long since they had met; but no one could be expected to find the way
to the other end of nowhere. Cecil blushed and stammered something
about Hounslow, but Allen, who prided himself on being the
conversational man of the world, carried off the talk into safe
channels.
As Cecil was handing Mrs. Brownlow down to the dining-room, wicked
Barbara whispered to her cousin John—-
"We've such a nice vulgar dinner. It couldn't have been better if
I'd known it!"
John, whose wrath had evaporated in his "cut," shook his head at her,
but partook of her diversion at her brother's resignation at sight of
a large dish of boiled beef, with a suet pudding opposite to it,
Allen was too well bred to apologise, but he carved in the dainty and
delicate style befitting the single slice of meat interspersed
between countless entrees.
Barbara began to relent as soon as Cecil, after making four mouthfuls
of Allen's help, sent his plate with a request for something more
substantial. And before the meal was over, his evident sense of
bien-etre and happiness had won back her kindness; she remembered
that he was Sydney's brother, and took no more trouble to show her
indignation.
Thenceforth, Cecil was as much as ever Jock's friend, and a
frequenter of the family, finding that the loss of their wealth and
place in the great world made wonderfully little difference to them,
and rather enhanced the pleasant freedom and life of their house.
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