e took a gold pencil…case from his watchchain and made an entry in the margin。 The windows were open to the summer night； the ticking of the clocks； the distant murmur of traffic on the Bayswater Road； and my…father's regular turning of the pages were the only sounds。 I had thought it impolitic to smoke a cigar while pleading poverty； now in desperation I went to my room and fetched one。 My father did not look up。 I pierced it； lit it； and with renewed confidence said； 'Father； you surely don't want me to spend the whole vacation here with you？'
'Eh？'
'Won't you find it rather a bore having me at home for so long？'
'I trust I should not betray such an emotion even if I felt it； said my father mildly and turned back to his book。
The evening passed。 Eventually all over the room clocks of diverse pattern musically chimed eleven。 My； father closed his book and removed his spectacles。 'You are very wele； my dear boy；' he said。 'Stay as long as you find it convenient。' At the door he paused and turned back。 'Your cousin Melchior worked his passage to Australia before the mast。' （Snuffle。） 'What； I wonder； is 〃before the mast〃？'
During the sultry week that followed； my relations with my father deteriorated sharply。 I saw little of him during the day； he spent hours on end in the library； now and then he emerged and I would hear him calling over the banisters： 'Hayter； get me a cab。' Then he would be away； sometimes for half an hour or less； sometimes a whole day； his errands were never explained。 Often I saw trays going up to him at odd hours； laden with meagre nursery snacks … rusks； glasses of milk； bananas； and so forth。 If we met in a passage or on the stairs he would look at me vacantly and say 'Ah…ha；' or 'Very warm；' or 'Splendid； splendid；' but in the evening； when he came to the garden…room in his velvet smoking suit； he always greeted me formally。
The dinner table was our battlefield。
On the second evening I took my book with me to the dining…room。 His mind and wandering eye fastened on it with sudden attention； and as we passed through the hall he surreptitiously left his own on a side table。 When we sat down； he said plaintively： 'I do think； Charles； you might talk to me。 I've had a very exhausting day。 I was looking forward to a little conversation。'
'Of course； father。 What shall we talk about？'
'Cheer me up。 Take me out of myself；' petulantly； 'tell me about the new plays。'
'But I haven't been to any。'
'You should； you know you really should。 It's not natural in a young man to spend all his evenings at home。'
'Well； father；' as I told you； I haven't much money to spare for theatre…going。'
'My dear boy； you must not let money bee your master in this way。 Why； at your age； your cousin Melchior was part…owner of a musical piece。 It was one of his few happy ventures。 You should go to the play as part of your education。 If you read the lives of eminent men you will find that quite half of them made their first acquaintance with drama from the gallery。 I am told there is no pleasure like it。 It is there that you find the real critics and devotees。 It is called 〃sitting； with the gods〃。 The expense is nugatory； and even while you wait for admission in the street you are diverted by 〃buskers〃。 We will sit with the gods together one night。 How do you find Mrs。Abel's cooking。？'
'Unchanged。'
'It was inspired by your Aunt Philippa。 She gave Mrs Abel ten menus； and they have never been varied。 When I am alone I do not notice what I eat； but now that you are here； we must have a change。 What would you like？ What is in season？ Are you fond of lobsters？ Hayter； tell Mrs Abel to give us lobsters tomorrow night。'
Dinner that。 evening consisted of a white； tasteless soup； overfried fillets of sole with a pink sauce； lamb cutlets propped against a cone of mashed potato； stewed pears in jelly standing on a kind of sponge cake。
'It is purely out of respect for your Aunt Philippa that I dine at this length。 She laid it down that a three…course dinner was middle…class。 〃If you once let the servants get their way；〃 she said； 〃you will find yourself dining nightly off a single chop。〃 There is nothing I should like more。 In fact； that is exactly what I do when I go to my club on Mrs Abel's evening out。 But your aunt ordained that at home I must have soup and three courses； some nights it is fish； meat； and savoury； on others it is meat； sweet； savoury … there are a number of possible permutations。
It is remarkable how some people are able to put their opinions in lapidary form； your aunt had that gift。
'It is odd to think that she and I once dined together nightly just as you and I do； my boy。 Now she made unremitting efforts to take me out of myself。 She used to tell me about her reading。 It was in her mind to make a home with me； you know。 She thought I should get into funny ways if I was left on my own。 Perhaps I have got into funny ways。 Have I？ But it didn't do。 I got her out in the end。'
There was an unmistakable note of menace in his voice as he said this。
It was largely by reason of my Aunt Philippa that I now found myself so much a stranger in my father's house。 After my mother's death she came to live with my father and me； no doubt； as he said； with the idea of making her home with us。 I knew nothing； then； of the nightly agonies at the dinner table。 My aunt made herself my panion； and I accepted her without question。 That was for a year。 The first change was that she reopened her house in Surrey which she had meant to sell； and lived there during my school terms； ing to London only for a few days' shopping and entertainment。 In the summer we went to lodgings together at the seaside。 Then in my last year at school she left England。 'I got her out in the end；' he said with derision and triumph of that kindly lady； and he knew that I heard in the words a challenge to myself。
As we left the dining…room my father said； 'Hayter； have you yet said anything to Mrs Abel about the lobsters I ordered for tomorrow？'
'No； sir。'
'Do not do so。'
'Very good； sir。'
And when we reached our chairs in the garden…room he said： 'I wonder whether Hayter had any intention of mentioning； lobsters； I rather think not。 Do you know； I believe he thought I was joking？ '
Next day by chance； a weapon came to hand。 I met an old acquaintance of school…days； a contemporary of mine named Jorkins。 I never had much liking for Jorkins。 Once； in my Aunt Philippa's day； he had e to tea； and she had condemned him as being probably charming at heart； but unattractive at first sight。 Now I greeted him with enthusiasm and asked him to dinner。 He came and showed little alteration。 My father must have been warned by Hayter that there was a guest； for instead of his velvet suit he wore a tail coat； this； with a black waistcoat； very high collar； and very narrow white tie； was his evening dress； he wore it with an air of melancholy as though it were court mourning； which he had assumed in early youth and； finding the style sympathetic； had retained。 He never possessed a dinner jacket。
'Good evening； good evening。 So nice of you to e all this way。'
'Oh； it wasn't far； said Jorkins； who lived in Sussex Square。
'Science annihilates distance；' said my father disconcertingly。 'You are over here on business？'
'Well； I'm in business； if that's what you mean。'
'I had a cousin who was in business … you wouldn't know him； it was before your time。 I was telling Charles about him only the other night。 He has been much in my mind。 He came；' my father paused to give full weight to the bizarre word … 'a cropper。'
Jorkins giggled nervously。 My father fixed him with a look of reproach。
'You find his misfortune the subject of mirth？ Or perhaps the word I used was unfamiliar； you no doubt would say that he 〃folded up〃。'
My father was master of the situation。 He had made a little fantasy for himself； that Jorkins should I be an American and throughout the evening he played a delicate one…sided parlour…game with him； explaining any peculiarly English terms that occurred in the conversation； translating pounds into dollars and courteo