Try not to take it too hard." Miltoun did not answer, and silence being that which Lady Valleys habitually most dreaded, she took refuge in further speech, outlining for her son the whole episode as she saw it from her point of view, and ending with these words: "Surely it's not worth it." Miltoun heard her with his peculiar look, as of a man peering through a vizor.

Then smiling, he said: "Thank you;" and opened the door.
Lady Valleys, without quite knowing whether he intended her to do so, indeed without quite knowing anything at the moment, passed out, and Miltoun closed the door behind her.
Ten minutes later he and Bertie were seen riding down the drive..