CHAPTER VII.

It is worthy of record in the light of after-events.

That at the beginning of their visit it was General Opinion of the guest-gather together

at Blending's Castle that the place was dull.

The house-party had that air of torpor which won the season the saloon passengers of an

Atlantic liner that appearance of resignation to an enforced idleness and a monotony to be

broken only by meals.

Court M'sworth's guests gave the impression collectively of being just about to yawn and

look at their watches.

This was partly the fault of the time of the year for most house parties are dull if they

happen to fall between the hunting and the shooting seasons, but must be attributed

chiefly to Lord M'sworth's extremely sketchy notions of the duties of a host.

A host has no right to intern a regiment of his relations in his house unless he also

invites lively and agreeable outsiders to meet them.

If he does commit this, the least he can do is to work himself to the bone in the effort

to invent amusements and diversions for his victims.

Court M'sworth had failed badly in both these matters.

With the exception of Mr. Peters, his daughter Alene and George Emerson, there was nobody

in the house who did not belong to the clan.

And as her exerting himself to entertain, the company was lucky if it caught a glimpse

of its host at meals.

Court M'sworth belonged to the people who liked to be left alone to amuse themselves

...