Page:The Other House (London, William Heinemann, 1896), Volume 1.djvu/178

164 He slowly masticated while he looked at her. "When do you think I had better?"

"Before dinner—distinctly. One doesn't know what may happen."

"Do you think anything at all will?" he placidly asked.

His mother waited before answering. "Nothing, certainly, unless you take some trouble for it." His perception of what she meant by this was clearly wanting, so that after a moment she continued: "You don't seem to grasp that I've done for you all I can do, and that the rest now depends on yourself."

"Oh yes, mother, I grasp it," he said without irritation. He took another bite of his bun and then added: "Miss Armiger has made me quite do that."

"Miss Armiger?" Mrs. Beever stared; she even felt that her opportunity was at hand. "What in the world has she to do with the matter?"

"Why I've talked to her a lot about it."

"You mean she has talked to you a lot, I suppose. It's immensely like her."

"It's like my dear mamma—that's whom it's like,"