notable in the successful soothing of querulous
stomachs, and it was inevitably Mr Heve who had been summoned. He had
arrived with an apprehensive, anxious air. There had been a most
distinct nervousness in his voice when, in replying to Edwin's question,
he had said, "Perhaps I'd better see him quite alone." Edwin had
somehow got it into his head that he would be present at the interview.
In shutting the dining-room door upon Edwin, Mr Heve had nodded timidly
in a curious way, highly self-conscious. And that dining-room door had
remained shut for half an hour. And now Mr Heve had emerged with the
same embarrassment.

"Whether he wants to or not?" Edwin suggested, with a faint smile.

"On no account whatever!" said the doctor, not answering the smile,
which died.

They were standing together near the door. Edwin had his fingers on the
handle. He wondered how he would prevent his father from going to
business, if his father should decide to go.

"But I don't think he'll be very keen on business," the doctor added.

"You don't?"

Mr Heve slowly shook his head. One of Mr Heve's qualities that
slightly annoyed Edwin was his extraordinary discretion. But then Edwin
had always regarded the discreetness of doctors as exaggerated. Why
could not Heve tell him at once fully and candidly what was in his mind?
He had surely the right to be told! ... Curious! And yet far more
curious than Mr Heve's unwillingness to tell, was Edwin's unwillingness
to ask. He could not bring himself to demand bluntly of Heve: "Well,
what's the matter with him?"

"I suppose it's shock," Edwin adventured.

Mr Heve lifted his chin. "Shock may have had a little to do with it,"
he answered doubtfully.

"And how long must he be kept off business?"

"I'm afraid there's not much chance of him doing any more business,"
said Mr Heve.

"Really!" Edwin murmured. "Are you sure?"

"Quite."

Edwin did not feel the full impact of this prophecy at the moment.
Indeed, it appeared to him that he had known since the previous midnight
of his father's sudden doom; it appeared to him that the first glimpse
of his father after the funeral had informed him of it positively. What
impressed him at the moment was the unusual dignity which characterised
Mr Heve's embarrassment. He was beginning to respect Mr Heve.

"I wouldn't care to give him more than two years," said Mr Heve, gazing
at the carpet, and then lifting his eyes to Edwin's.

Ed