"
Lord Saltire rose, wishing, I have no doubt, to put
an end to the conversation. Jimmy and I rose also; and
suddenly I saw that instead of moving towards the door he
was going to his mother. Knowing his little tricks, I
passed my hand under his arm, and tried to steer him
away. She noticed it, however, and interfered.
"Did you wish to speak to me, James?"
"I want to whisper in your ear, mother."
"Pray don't excite yourself, sir," said I, again
attempting to detain him. Lady Saltire arched her
aristocratic eyebrows.
"I think, Dr. Munro, that you push your authority
rather far when you venture to interfere between a mother
and her son," said she. What was it, my poor dear boy?"
Jimmy bent down and whispered something in her ear.
The blood rushed into her pale face, and she sprang from
him as if he had struck her. Jimmy began to snigger.
"This is your doing, Dr. Munro," she cried furiously.
"You have corrupted my son's mind, and encouraged him to
insult his mother."
"My dear! My dear!" said her husband soothingly, and
I quietly led the recalcitrant Jimmy upstairs. I asked
him what it was that he had said to his mother, but got
only chuckles in reply.
I had a presentiment that I should hear more of the
matter; and I was not wrong. Lord Saltire called me into
his study in the evening.
"The fact is, doctor," said he, "that Lady Saltire
has been extremely annoyed and grieved about what
occurred at lunch to-day.
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