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cheque drawn in Ferrand's favour。 Shelton felt more mean than ever。
A message came from Mrs。 Dennant； so he took the traveller to the
dining…room and left him there； while he himself went to the lady of
the house。 He met Antonia coming down。
〃How many days did you say he went without food that timeyou know？〃
she asked in passing。
〃Four。〃
〃He does n't look a bit common； Dick。〃
Shelton gazed at her dubiously。
〃They're surely not going to make a show of him！〃 he thought。
Mrs。 Dennant was writing； in a dark…blue dress starred over with
white spots； whose fine lawn collar was threaded with black velvet。
〃Have you seen the new hybrid Algy's brought me back from Kidstone？
Is n't it charmin'？〃 and she bent her face towards this perfect rose。
〃They say unique； I'm awfully interested to find out if that's true。
I've told Algy I really must have some。〃
Shelton thought of the unique hybrid breakfasting downstairs； he
wished that Mrs。 Dennant would show in him the interest she had
manifested in the rose。 But this was absurd of him； he knew； for the
potent law of hobbies controlled the upper classes； forcing them to
take more interest in birds； and roses； missionaries； or limited and
highly…bound editions of old books （things； in a word； in treating
which you knew exactly where you were） than in the manifestations of
mere life that came before their eyes。
〃Oh； Dick； about that young Frenchman。 Antonia says he wants a
tutorship； now； can you really recommend him？ There's Mrs。 Robinson
at the Gateways wants someone to teach her boys languages； and； if he
were quite satisfactory； it's really time Toddles had a few lessons
in French； he goes to Eton next half。〃
Shelton stared at the rose； he had suddenly realised why it was that
people take more interest in roses than in human beingsone could do
it with a quiet heart。
〃He's not a Frenchman； you know；〃 he said to gain a little time。
〃He's not a German； I hope；〃 Mrs。 Dennant answered； passing her
forgers round a petal； to impress its fashion on her brain； 〃I don't
like Germans。 Is n't he the one you wrote aboutcome down in the
world？ Such a pity with so young a fellow！ His father was a
merchant； I think you told us。 Antonia says he 's quite refined to
look at。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 said Shelton； feeling on safe ground； 〃he's refined enough
to look at。〃
Mrs。 Dennant took the rose and put it to her nose。
〃Delicious perfume！ That was a very touchin' story about his goin'
without food in Paris。 Old Mrs。 Hopkins has a room to let； I should
like to do her a good turn。 I'm afraid there's a hole in the
ceilin'； though。 Or there's the room here in the left wing on the
ground…floor where John the footman used to sleep。 It's quite nice；
perhaps he could have that。〃
〃You 're awfully kind；〃 said Shelton； 〃 but…〃
〃I should like to do something to restore his self…respect；〃； went on
Mrs。 Dennant； 〃if； as you say； he 's clever and all that。 Seein' a
little refined life again might make a world of difference to him。
It's so sad when a young man loses self…respect。〃
Shelton was much struck by the practical way in which she looked at
things。 Restore his self…respect！ It seemed quite a splendid
notion！ He smiled； and said；
〃You're too kind。 I think…〃
〃I don't believe in doin' things by halves；〃 said Mrs。 Dennant； 〃he
does n't drink； I suppose？〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said Shelton。 〃He's rather a tobacco maniac； of course。〃
〃Well； that's a mercy！ You would n't believe the trouble I 've had
with drink； especially over cooks and coachmen。 And now Bunyan's
taken to it。〃
〃Oh； you'd have no trouble with Ferrand；〃 returned Shelton； 〃 you
couldn't tell him from a gentleman as far as manners go。〃
Mrs。 Dennant smiled one of her rather sweet and kindly smiles。
〃My dear Dick；〃 she said； 〃there's not much comfort in that。 Look at
poor Bobby Surcingle； look at Oliver Semples and Victor Medallion；
you could n't have better families。 But if you 're sure he does n't
drink！ Algy 'll laugh； of course； that does n't matterhe laughs at
everything。〃
Shelton felt guilty； being quite unprepared for so rapid an adoption
of his client。
〃I really believe there's a lot of good in him；〃 he stammered； 〃but；
of course； I know very little； and from what he tells me he's had a
very curious life。 I shouldn't like…〃
〃Where was he educated？〃 inquired Mrs。 Dennant。 〃They have no public
schools in France； so I 've been told； but； of course； he can't help
that； poor young fellow！ Oh； and； Dick； there 's one thinghas he
relations？ One has always to be so careful about that。 It 's one
thing to help a young fellow； but quite another to help his family
too。 One sees so many cases of that where men marry girls without
money； don't you know。〃
〃He has told me；〃 answered Shelton； 〃his only relations are some
cousins； and they are rich。〃
Mrs。 Dennant took out her handkerchief； and； bending above the rose；
removed a tiny insect。
〃These green…fly get in everywhere；〃 she said。
〃Very sad story； can't they do anything for him？〃 and she made
researches in the rose's heart。
〃He's quarrelled with them； I believe；〃 said Shelton； 〃I have n't
liked to press him； about that。〃
〃No； of course not；〃 assented Mrs。 Dennant absentlyshe had found
another green…fly 〃I always think it's painful when a young man seems
so friendless。〃
Shelton was silent； he was thinking deeply。 He had never before felt
so distrustful of the youthful foreigner。
〃I think；〃 he said at last； 〃the best thing would be for you to see
him for yourself。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Mrs。 Dennant。 〃I should be so glad if you would
tell him to come up。 I must say I do think that was a most touchin'
story about Paris。 I wonder whether this light's strong enough now
for me to photograph this rose。〃
Shelton withdrew and went down…stairs。 Ferrand was still at
breakfast。 Antonia stood at the sideboard carving beef for him； and
in the window sat Thea with her Persian kitten。
Both girls were following the traveller's movements with inscrutable
blue eyes。 A shiver ran down Shelton's spine。 To speak truth； he
cursed the young man's coming； as though it affected his relations
with Antonia。
CHAPTER XXVII
SUB ROSA
》From the interview； which Shelton had the mixed delight of watching；
between Ferrand and the Honourable Mrs。 Dennant； certain definite
results accrued； the chief of which was the permission accorded the
young wanderer to occupy the room which had formerly been tenanted by
the footman John。 Shelton was lost in admiration of Ferrand's manner
in this scene。。 Its subtle combination of deference and dignity was
almost paralysing； paralysing； too； the subterranean smile upon his
lips。
〃Charmin' young man； Dick；〃 said Mrs。 Dennant； when Shelton lingered
to say once more that he knew but very little of him； 〃I shall send a
note round to Mrs。 Robinson at once。 They're rather common； you
knowthe Robinsons。 I think they'll take anyone I recommend。〃
〃I 'm sure they will；〃 said Shelton； 〃that's why I think you ought to
know…〃
But Mrs。 Dennant's eyes； fervent； hare…like； were fixed on something
far away； turning； he saw the rose in a tall vase on a tall and
spindly stool。 It seemed to nod towards them in the sunshine。 Mrs。
Dennant dived her nose towards her camera。
〃The light's perfect now；〃 she said； in a voice muffled by the cloth。
〃I feel sure that livin' with decent people will do wonders for him。
Of course； he understands that his meals will be served to him
apart。〃
Shelton； doubly anxious； now that his efforts had lodged his client
in a place of trust； fell； back on hoping for the best； his instinct
told him that； vagabond as Ferrand was； he had a curious self…
respect； that would save him from a mean ingratitude。
In fact； as Mrs。 Dennant； who was by no means void of common…sense；
foresaw； the arrangement worked all right。 Ferrand entered on his
duties as French tutor to the little Robinsons。 In the Dennants'
household he kept himself to his own room； which； day and night； he
perfumed with tobacco； emerging at noon into the garden； or； if wet；
into the study； to teach young Toddles French。 After a time it
became customary for him to lunch with the house…party； partly
through a mistake of Toddles； who seemed to think that it was
natural； and partly through John Noble； one of Shelton's friends； who
had come to stay； and discovered Ferrand to be a most awfully
interesting person he was always； indeed； discovering the most
awfully interesting persons。 In his grave and toneless voice；
brushing his hair from off his brow； he descanted upon Ferrand with
enthusiasm； to which was joined a kind of shocked amusement； as who
should say； 〃Of course； I know it's very odd； but rea