temper.

Such fine distinctions, however, were unknown to Jane. If you were in a
temper, you were in a temper. That was flat. And she rather wanted to
rouse Nevil's. Heated opposition would stiffen her own....

"India of all countries in the world!" she culminated--a desperate note
invading her wrath. "The one place where he should _not_ be allowed to
sow his wild oats--if the modern anaemic young man has enough red blood
in his veins--for that sort of thing. And it's your obvious duty to be
quite frank with him on the subject. If you had an ounce of common-sense
in your make-up, you'd see it for yourself. But I always say the clever
people are the biggest fools. And Roy's in the same boat--being your
son. No ballast. All in the clouds. _That's_ the fruits of Lil's fancy
education. And you can't say I didn't warn you. What he needs is
discipline--a tight hand. Why not one of the Services? If he gets bitten
with India--at his age, it's quite on the cards that he may go turning
Hindu--or even repeat _your_ folly----"

She paused, simply for lack of breath--and became suddenly alive to the
set stillness of her brother's face.

"_My_ folly--as you are pleased to call it," he said with concentrated
scorn, "has incidentally made our name famous, and cleared the old place
of mortgage. For that reason alone, you might have the grace to refrain
from insulting my wife."

She flung up her head, like a horse at a touch of the curb.

"Oh, if it's an insult to speak the simple truth, I'm _quite_ out of it.
I never could call spades agricultural instruments: and I can't start
new habits at my time of life. I don't deny you've made a good thing out
of your pictures. But no one in their senses _could_ call your marriage
an act of wisdom."

Nevil winced visibly. "I married for the only defensible reason," he
said, in a low controlled voice. "And events have more than justified
me."

"Possibly--so far as _you're_ concerned. But you can't get over the fact
that--even if Roy marries the best blood of England--his son may revert
to type. Dr Simons tells me----"

"_Will_ you hold your tongue!" Nevil blazed out, in a white fury. "I'll
thank you _not_ to discuss my affairs--or Roy's--with your damned
Doctor. And the subject's barred between us--as you're very well aware."

She blenched at the force and fire of his unexpected onslaught, never
dreaming how deeply her thrust had gone home.

"Goodness knows it's as painful for me as it