entire family of impoverished relatives, that they and
his little pet daughter, the angelic Louey, should readjust the balance
of household power in his favour?

It was on the eve of the arrival of his aristocratic connections, the
Cavendishes, that he determined to put a stop to his son's courtship.
George, at the outset of the momentous interview with his father,
speculated inwardly on his chances of being able to soften the old man
to a favourable view of 'the only wish that he had ever framed with a
feeling that savoured of intensity.'

Before entering the ornamental tower where his father awaited him,
George had composed his face to its usual expression of laziest
indifference. His imperturbability always 'had the effect of a goad upon
his father's temper. His face never changed colour when the old man's
was purple. His voice never lost its measured drawl.'

As Mr. Piper turned and faced him you would never have traced the
sonship in George. There was nothing in common between the sallow,
indolent face of the younger man, and the spreading, heated face of
the elder. George looked like any club-lounger--not unwilling to let
it be seen that he is slightly bored, yet ready, with perfect
acquiescence, to go through with an hour or a forenoon of the
infliction of boredom, as conveyed by a father's presence.... Mr.
Piper watched him as he continued tranquilly to pare his nails, the
baffled sense of helplessness that exasperated him at the outset of
an interview with his son creeping over him as he watched. If George
could only once have lost his head and sworn, or only once implored
or threatened! But he never did. The apathy and unconcern of his
attitude--the veiled disrespect it implied--spoke of an indifference
that was worse than the most open revolt. But surely he would be
made to feel now! Mr. Piper had never tried to reach 'my gentleman'
through his 'young woman' yet.... A slight elevation of an unruffled
brow just gave evidence that though his eyes were looking critically
at his almond-shaped finger-nails, his ear took in the sense of his
fathers words. Otherwise he might have served as a perfect model of
intentness upon his hands, as the statue of the boy who to all
eternity will be absorbed in the task of extracting a thorn from his
foot.

Meanwhile Mr. Piper is in a state of acute excitement.

'I'll see and put a s