What a pity we
can't do without meals!'
'You should go out in the morning and get an appetite. Really, you
are getting very pale, Alice. I'm sure you read far too much.'
Adela had it on her lips to say 'too many novels,' but was afraid to
administer a direct rebuke.
'Oh, I like reading, and I don't care a bit for going out.'
'What about your practising?' Adela asked, with a playful shake of
the head.
'Yes, I know it's very neglectful, but really it is such awful
work.'
'And your French?'
'I'll make a beginning to-morrow. At least, I think I will. I don't
neglect things wilfully, but it's so awfully hard to really get at
it when the time comes.'
The luncheon-bell rang, and Alice, with a cry of dismay, sped to her
room. She knew that her brother was to lunch at home to-day, and
Richard was terrible in the matter of punctuality.
As Soon as the meal was over Alice hastened back to her low chair in
the drawing-room. Richard and his wife went together into the
garden.
'What do you think Rodman's been advising me this morning?' Mutimer
said, speaking with a cigar in his mouth. 'It's a queer idea; I
don't quite know what to think of it. You know there'll be a general
election some time next year, and he advises me to stand for
Belwick.'
He did not look at his wife.
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