He had
certainly lost much ground in these few weeks; he had ceased to ride,
and never went out in the evening; but the doctors still said he
might live for months or years if he avoided another English winter.
His mother was taking Sydney into society, and Esther was always
happier when under their wing, being rather frightened by the
admiration of which Cecil was so proud. When they went out much
before Fordham's bed time, he was thankful for the companionship of
Allen or Armine, generally the former, for Armine was reading hard,
and working after lectures for a tutor; while Allen, unfortunately,
had nothing to prevent him from looking in whenever Mrs. Evelyn was
out, to play chess, read aloud, or assist in that re-editing of the
cream of the "Traveller's Joy," which seemed the invalid's great
amusement. Fordham had a few scruples at first, and when Allen had
undertaken to come to him for the whole afternoon of a garden-party,
he consulted Barbara whether it was not permitting too great a
sacrifice of valuable time.
"You don't mean that for irony?" said Babie. "It is only so much
time subtracted from tobacco."
"Will you let me say something to you, Infanta?" returned Fordham,
with all his gentleness. "It seems to me that you are not always
quite kind in your way of speaking of Allen.
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