Tabitha’s freezing menace of brow bent warningly against the butler, those who, as visitors, were outside these privacies of the domestic circle, never felt altogether at their ease.  But the fact that other people were made uncomfortable by his chronic irascibility moved Sir Morton not at all, so long as he personally could enjoy himself in his own fashion, which was to browbeat, bully and swear at every hapless household retainer that came across his path in the course of the day.  He was more than usually choleric and fussy in the ‘distinguished’ presence of Lord Roxmouth, for though that individual had gone the social pace very thoroughly, and was, to put it mildly, a black sheep of modern decadence, hopelessly past all regeneration, he still presented the exterior appearances of a gentleman, and was careful to maintain that imperturbable composure of mien, dignity of bearing, and unruffled temper which indicate breeding, though they are far from being evidences of sincerity.  And thus it very naturally happened that in the companionship of the future Duke of Ormistoune, Sir Morton did not shine.  His native vulgarity came out side by side with his childish pomposity, and Roxmouth, after studying his habits, customs and manners for two or three days, began to feel intensely bored and out of humour.

“Upon my word,”—­he said, to his fidus Achates, Marius Longford,—­“I am enduring a great deal for the sake of the Vancourt millions!  To follow an erratic girl like Maryllia from one Continental resort to another was bad enough,-but to stay here in tame, highly respectable country dullness is a thousand times worse!  Why on earth, my good fellow, could you not have found a more educated creature to play host to me than this terrible old Bone-Boiler?”

Longford pressed the tips of his fingers together with a deprecatory gesture.

“There was really no one else who could receive you,”—­he answered, almost apologetically—­“I thought I had managed the affair rather well.  You will remember that directly Miss Vancourt had announced to her aunt her intention to return to her own home, you sent me down here to investigate the place and its surroundings, and see what I could do.  Sir Morton Pippitt seemed to be the only person, from the general bent of his character, to suit your aims, and his house was, (before he had it) of very excellent historic renown.  I felt sure you would be able to use him.  There is no other large place in the neighbourhood except Miss Vancourt’s own Manor, and Ittlethwaite Park—­I doubt whether you could have employed the Ittlethwaites to much purpose—–­”

“Spare me the suggestion!” yawned Roxmouth—­“I should not have tried!”

“Well, there is no one else of suitable position, or indeed of sufficient wealth to entertain you,”—­continued Longford—­“Unless you had wished me to fraternise with the brewer, Mordaunt Appleby?  He certainly might have been useful! oj He would sell his soul to a title!”