I see him, Lucy; it is useless to contradict me. No doubt I am neither artistic nor literary nor intellectual nor musical, but I cannot help the drawing-room furniture; your father bought it and we must put up with it, will Cecil kindly remember.”

“I — I see what you mean, and certainly Cecil oughtn't to. But he does not mean to be uncivil — he once explained — it is the things that upset him — he is easily upset by ugly things — he is not uncivil to PEOPLE.”

“Is it a thing or a person when Freddy sings?”

“You can't expect a really musical person to enjoy comic songs as we do.”

“Then why didn't he leave the room? Why sit wriggling and sneering and spoiling everyone's pleasure?”