I shan't bite
his head off." A slow, pleased smile had dawned on Tony's face as Ann read
out this particular extract from the letter. Quarrel as he and his uncle
might, they were genuinely fond of each other, and although Tony would
not for worlds have admitted it, the knowledge that Sir Philip was really
seriously annoyed with him had weighed heavily on his mind.
Since the removal of this incubus he had reverted to his usual high spirits
and, between them, he and Brett Forrester had "made things hum," as he
described it. Boating, bathing, and picnics had been the order of the day,
and the latest proposal, emanating from Forrester, was that they should all
dine one evening on board the _Sphinx_. The date had been fixed to coincide
with a night of full moon, and the invitations included both Eliot Coventry
and the two Tempests.
The former had taken but little part in the summer diversions inaugurated
by Brett and Tony. Nevertheless, he had been persuaded into joining one of
the picnics. On this occasion the hostess had been Lady Susan, and she had
simply declined to accept his refusal.
"Man was not made to live alone," she had assured him. "We know that by
the Garden of Eden arrangements, it's not the least use going against
old-established custom, my dear man.
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