It was outside it altogether, and concerned only his father's convenience.

He was willing to press this point as far as possible.
"I had imagined you would stop in London," he said.

"Supposing under these circumstances I refuse to live with you ?" "I should draw my own conclusion as to the sincerity of your profession of duty towards your mother." "And practically what would you do ?" asked Michael.
"Your mother and I would go to Ashbridge tomorrow all the same." Another alternative suddenly suggested itself to Michael which he was almost ashamed of proposing, for it implied that his father put his own convenience as outweighing any other consideration.

But he saw that if only Lord Ashbridge was selfish enough to consent to it, it had manifest merits.

His mother would be alone with him, free of the presence that so disconcerted her.
"I propose, then," he said, "that she and I should remain in town, as you want to be at Ashbridge." He had been almost ashamed of suggesting it, but no such shame was reflected in his father's mind.