Raymond followed his brother in about ten minutes, and threw himself into a chair and yawned.
"Are you very tired, dear?" asked his mother.
"I should think I was. The air of that hole in Harstone is enough to choke a fellow. I don't believe you have any idea of the stuffy air; and such dirty clerks at the desks--a set of cads!"
"One isn't a cad anyhow," said Reginald. "His brother is in my form. His name is Percival."
"Oh, I know; his coat out at elbows, and his hair like a mop. I should say he was the greatest cad of the lot."
"That I know he isn't," said Reginald hotly. "He may be shabby--for his people are poor, and there are heaps of children--but I am certain Ralph Percival's brother isn't a cad."
"You needn't put yourself out about it," Raymond said. "Not one of the clerks is anything to me. I don't speak to them."
"I daresay as you get higher in the office you will find the class better. Mr. Warde's nephew and his two sons are in it. Uncle Loftus told me so."
"Any letters for me by the second post?" asked Raymond.
"No, dear. Whom did you expect to hear from?"
"Oh!--a friend--St. Clair. He may not have posted the letter in time." Another yawn, and then Raymond stretched his legs out before the fire, first giving it a vigorous stir with the tongs, which came more handy than the poker, and drew a newspaper out of his pocket.
"We have had a number of visitors to-day," Ada said. "Lady Monroe, for one, with her daughter. Such a pretty, nice girl!"
"Who is Lady Monroe? and how did she find you out?"
Ada explained; and Raymond seemed interested.
"I hope you will keep up with them," he said; "and mind mother drives with Lady Monroe to-morrow."
"They are going to the south of France for the winter very soon; that is the worst of it," Ada said. "Lady Monroe went to school with mamma, and seems so fond of her."
"What a bore that they are going away! They might be useful, and ask a fellow to dinner. Who came besides?"
"Aunt Anna and the two elder girls. I like Louise very much; and Aunt Anna is really very handsome, and she does look so young."
"She patronized no end, didn't she? I am glad I was not here."
"She was very pleasant, and said she hoped to see us often."
"That 'often' means 'never,' when no day is fixed."