Mr. Jocelyn was indulging in unexpected irony at his expense, and the ready youth whose social habits had inured him to much chaffing was able to reply, although a little stiffly and awkwardly, “I suppose most young men have ambitious hopes of doing something in the world, and yet that does not prevent mine from seeming absurd.  At any rate, it’s clear that I had better reveal them hereafter by deeds rather than words,” and with a very slight bow he strode away, but not so quickly that he failed to hear Mildred’s voice in the exclamation, “Oh, papa! how could you?” and then followed a paroxysm of laughter from Belle.

Roger was deeply incensed, for he believed that Mr. Jocelyn and Belle were deliberately ridiculing him.  That Mildred had repeated his conversation was evident, but her manner showed that she did not expect his words to be used against him so openly, and that she had no part in the cruel sport.  The worst he could charge against her was exclusive pride; and he did Mrs. Jocelyn the justice to see that she was pained by the whole affair.  His face grew rigid as he finished his work and he muttered, “They shall see that my pride is equal to theirs:  I won’t go out of my way a hair-breadth for them,” and he walked in to supper as if he were at home and had an absolute right to be there.  He had been at the table but a few moments, however, before the aspect of the Jocelyn family began to puzzle him exceedingly.  Belle appeared as if she had been crying; Mrs. Jocelyn looked perplexed and worried, and in Mildred’s eyes there were anxiety and trouble.  Mr. Jocelyn had not lost his serenity in the least, but his aspect now was grave, and his manner more courtly than ever.  He did not seem inclined to say very much, however, and had an abstracted, dreamy look as if his thoughts were far away.  When he did speak, Roger thought that Mildred looked apprehensive, as if fearing that he might again say something embarrassing, but his words were quiet and measured, betraying no excitement.  The expression of his face, however, seemed unnatural to Roger’s close yet furtive scrutiny.  An hour before his eyes had been bright and dilated, and his countenance full of animation; now all the light and cheerfulness were fading, and the man seemed to grow older and graver by moments.  Was the dusky pallor stealing across his features caused by the shadows of evening?  Roger thought not, but a resentful glance from Mildred warned him to curb his curiosity.

He was curious, but not in a vulgar or prying way, and his anger was all gone.  He was sure that something was amiss with Mr. Jocelyn, and that his family also was disturbed and anxious.  There had been none of the incoherency and excitement of a man who had drank too much, but only a slight exaggeration of the genial traits manifested at the dinner-table followed by a quietude and abstraction that were not natural.  Mental aberrations, even though slight and temporary, are instinctively felt by those who