He found Henrietta alone in the drawing-room.  ‘Have you seen Felix?’ she said, as soon as they had greeted each other.

‘Yes.  I caught him in the street.’

‘We are so unhappy about him.’

’I cannot say but that you have reason.  I think, you know, that your mother indulges him foolishly.’

‘Poor mamma!  She worships the very ground he treads on.’

’Even a mother should not throw her worship away like that.  The fact is that your brother will ruin you both if this goes on.’

‘What can mamma do?’

‘Leave London, and then refuse to pay a shilling on his behalf.’

‘What would Felix do in the country?’

’If he did nothing, how much better would that be than what he does...