The miserable pair in the bower, exhibiting various shades of red, looked steadfastly out into the blue, blue sky for some minutes in stupefied silence.  Johnny presently picked up his sailor straw hat and surveyed the nick in its brim with ingenuous interest.

“I bought that hat in Baltimore,” he inanely observed.

Constance suddenly rose and walked straight out of there—­alone!

CHAPTER XVIII

IN WHICH THE ENTIRE WOBBLES FAMILY FOR ONCE GET TOGETHER

Mr. Eugene Wobbles, who tried to live down his American ancestry in London clubs and was, consequently, more British than any Englishman, came to Mr. Courtney lazily apologetic.

“I fancy I’m going to give you a lot of bother, my dear Courtney,” he observed, lounging feebly against the porch rail.

“I prefer bother to almost anything,” returned his host pleasantly; “it gives me something to do.”

“Rather clever that,” laughed Eugene, swinging his monocle with one hand and stroking his drooping yellow mustache with the other.  “Really I never thought of bother in that way before.  Keeps one bothered, I think you said,” and he gazed out over the broad lawn where the young people were noisily congregating, in pleasant contemplation of Courtney’s wonderful new philosophy.

“What is this particular bother?” gently suggested Courtney after a pause.

“Oh, yes,” responded Eugene, “we were discussing that, weren’t we?  I’ve a rotten memory; but my oldest brother, Tommy, can’t even remember his middle initial.  Pretty good that, don’t you think; Tommy is a perfect ass in every respect.”  And idly considering Tommy’s perfection as an ass, he turned and gazed down into the ravine where Courtney had built some attractive little waterfalls and cave paths.  “About how deep should you say it was down there, Courtney?”

“Three hundred and fifty feet,” answered Courtney.  “I think you were speaking about a little bother.”

“Oh, yes, so I was,” agreed Eugene.  “Very good of you to remind me of it.  You know, Courtney, Mr. Gamble—­who wants to buy some land of ours—­has made the remarkable discovery that we’re all here together.  First time in years, I assure you.  No matter how necessary it may be for us to hold a complete family council, one of my brothers—­most unreliable people in the world, I think—­is always missing.”

“And when they’re all together I suppose you are somewhere else,” suggested Courtney.

That proposition was so unique that Eugene was forced to spend profound thought on it.

“Curious, isn’t it?” he finally admitted.  “A chap becomes so in the habit of thinking that he is himself always present, wherever he happens to be, that it’s no end starting to reflect that sometimes he isn’t.”

“I see,” said Courtney, grasping eagerly at the light.  “You merely happen to be all here at the same time, and you think it advisable to hold a family business meeting because the accident may never occur again.  Sensible idea, Eugene.  The east loggia off the second-floor hall is just the place.  Assemble there and I’ll send you any weapons you want.”