This clearly took his father aback; it was a perfectly dignified and
proper attitude to take in the face of ridicule, and Lord Ashbridge,
though somewhat an adept at the art of self-deception--as, for instance,
when he habitually beat the golf professional--could not disguise from
himself that his policy had been to laugh and blow away Michael's absurd
ideas. But it was abundantly clear at this moment that this apparently
easy operation was out of his reach.

He got up with more amenity in his manner than he had yet shown,
and laid his hand on Michael's shoulder as he stood in front of him,
evidently quite prepared to go away.

"Come, my dear Michael. This won't do," he said. "I thought it best
to treat your absurd schemes with a certain lightness, and I have only
succeeded in irritating you."

Michael was perfectly aware that he had scored. And as his object was to
score he made another criticism.

"When you say 'absurd schemes,' sir," he said, with quiet respect, "are
you not still laughing at them?"

Lord Ashbridge again retreated strategically.

"Very well; I withdraw absurd," he said. "Now sit down again, and we
will talk. Tell me what is in your mind."

Michael made a great effort with himself. He desired, in the secret,
real Michael, to be reasonable and cordial, to behave filially, while
all the time his nerves were on edge with his father's ridicule, and
with his instinctive knowledge of his father's distaste for him.

"Well, it's like this, father," he said. "I'm doing no good as I am. I
went into the Guards, as you know, because it was the right thing to do.
A business man's son is put into business for the same reason. And I'm
not good at it."

Michael paused a moment.

"My heart isn't in it," he said, "and I dislike it. It seems to me
useless. We're for show. And my heart is quite entirely in music. It's
the thing I care for more than anything else."

Again he paused; all that came so easily to his tongue when he was
speaking to Francis was congealed now when he felt the contempt with
which, though unexpressed, he knew he inspired his father.

Lord Ashbridge waited with careful politeness, his eyes fixed on the
ceiling, his large person completely filling his chair, just as his
atmosphere filled the room. He said nothing at all until the silence
rang in Michael's ears.

"That is all I can tell you," he said at length.

Lord Ashbridge carefully conveyed the ash from his cigarette to the
fi