e expression of her face. She had bright brown hair. She
was perfectly mistress of the apple.

"Where's mother?"

"In bed with a headache."

"Didn't she have dinner with you?"

"She did not. And she doesn't want to be disturbed."

"Oh! I shan't disturb her, poor thing. I told her this afternoon she
would have one of her headaches."

"Well," said Mr. Prohack, "that's one of the most remarkable instances
of sound prophecy that I ever came across."

"Father, what's amusing you?"

"Nothing."

"Yes, something is. You've got your funny smile, and you were smiling
all to yourself when I came in."

"I was thinking. My right to think is almost the only right I possess
that hasn't yet been challenged in this house."

"Where's Charles?"

"Gone to Glasgow."

"Gone to _Glasgow_?"

"Yes."

"What, just now?"

"Ten minutes ago."

"Whatever has he gone to _Glasgow_ for?"

"I don't know,--any more than I know why you went out before dinner and
came back after dinner."

"Would you like to know why I went out?" Sissie spoke with sudden
ingratiatingness.

"No, not at all. But I should like to know why you went out without
telling anybody. When people are expected to dinner and fail to appear
they usually give notice of the failure."

"But, father, I told Machin."

"I said 'anybody.' Don't you know that the whole theory of the society
which you adorn is based on the assumption that Machin is nobody?"

"I was called away in a frightful hurry, and you and mother were
gossiping upstairs, and it's as much as one's life is worth to disturb
you two when you are together."

"Oh! That's news."

"Besides, I should have had to argue with mother, and you know what she
is."

"You flatter me. I don't even know what _you_ are, and you're elementary
compared to your mother."

"Anyhow, I'm glad mother's in bed with a headache. I came in here
trembling just now. Mother would have made such a tremendous fuss
although she's perfectly aware that it's not the slightest use making a
fuss.... Only makes me stupid and obstinate. Showers and showers of
questions there'd have been, whereas you haven't asked a single one."

"Yes, you're rather upset by my lack of curiosity. But let me just point
out that it is not consistent with my paternal duty to sit here and
listen to you slanging your mother. As a daughter you have vast
privileges, but you mustn't presume on them. There are some things I
couldn't stand from any woman witho