CHAPTER XIV.
NEWS AND COMMENTS As a man who took the world as he found it, and on the whole found it well worth accepting on such terms, Mr.Athel was not likely to allow his annoyance with Wilfrid to threaten the habitual excellence of his digestion.

His disappointment was real enough.

When of a sudden Wilfrid had announced that he could not accompany the family party to Switzerland, Mr.Athel was saved from undignified irresolution by a hearty outburst of temper, which saw him well over the Straits before it gave way to the natural reaction, under the influence of which he called himself a blockhead.

He had, beyond a doubt, precipitated the marriage, when postponement was the only thing he really cared about.

To abuse himself was one thing, the privilege which an Englishman is ready enough to exercise; to have his thoughts uttered to him by his sister with feminine neatness and candour was quite another matter.