Champagne, Warmson," said Emily.

And they went in.
At the great dining-table, shortened to its utmost, under which so many fashionable legs had rested, James sat at one end, Emily at the other, Val half-way between them; and something of the loneliness of his grandparents, now that all their four children were flown, reached the boy's spirit.

'I hope I shall kick the bucket long before I'm as old as grandfather,' he thought.

'Poor old chap, he's as thin as a rail!' And lowering his voice while his grandfather and Warmson were in discussion about sugar in the soup, he said to Emily: "It's pretty brutal at home, Granny.

I suppose you know." "Yes, dear boy." "Uncle Soames was there when I left.