He called for a batch of
morning papers and skimmed rapidly through the speeches of the
Chancellor, Quinston, and other Ministerial leaders, as well as
those of the principal Opposition champions, and then sank back in
his chair with a sigh of relief. Evidently the spell had ceased
to act after the tragedy which had overtaken its invoker. There
was no trace of angel anywhere.
THE REMOULDING OF GROBY LINGTON
"A man is known by the company he keeps."
In the morning-room of his sister-in-law's house Groby Lington
fidgeted away the passing minutes with the demure restlessness of
advanced middle age. About a quarter of an hour would have to
elapse before it would be time to say his good-byes and make his
way across the village green to the station, with a selected
escort of nephews and nieces. He was a good-natured, kindly
dispositioned man, and in theory he was delighted to pay
periodical visits to the wife and children of his dead brother
William; in practice, he infinitely preferred the comfort and
seclusion of his own house and garden, and the companionship of
his books and his parrot to these rather meaningless and tiresome
incursions into a family circle with which he had little in
common.
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