Page:Castles--The composer.djvu/15

 THE COMPOSER CHAPTER I "Johnny," said Lady Caroline Pountney, "I want you to take me down to Warborough House." "Oh, I say!" said Johnny.

It was not that he had any solid objection, but the average young man of his set ejaculated "Oh, I say!" on every opportunity. And Johnny was a very average young man indeed.

"Do, Johnny," said his godmother, coaxingly. "Lady Warborough made such a point of my going. And it's so lonely here, in these wretched lodgings. London people are much too busy to spare a moment for an old woman with a sprained knee. I'd go by train, only I'm such a cripple." She broke oflF. She saw relenting in Johnny's gray eyes which had never been very obdurate. "I'll get ready at once," she exclaimed with alacrity.

"Well, if I must, I must, I suppose."

Sir John Holdfast resigned himself with perfect equanimity; rose and extended a broad, sunburnt hand to assist the lady in her effort to hoist herself out of her chair. He further supported her filially to the door, wondering as he did so, how any one afflicted with so