Let him but take his proper position, on an equality
with the noblest and best, and all charges would be gladly defrayed by
her. She wanted him to be a dandy, _repandu_ in society, a member of
the Coaching Club, well known at Prince's, at Hurlingham, at Lord's;
sought after by dowagers; intimate with royalties; she would not have
seriously resented a reputation for a little wickedness, provided he
erred in the right direction--with people of the blue blood, that is
to say--and the scandal did not go too far.
Unhappily, Harold's tastes and inclinations lay all in the opposite
direction. In external appearance he favoured his mother, in
disposition he was his father's son. Like him reserved--he would have
been shy but for his training at school and college, which had rubbed
the sensitive skin off his self-consciousness; like him studious too,
thoughtful, quiet, with scientific tastes and proclivities. His
friends in familiar talk called him "Old Steady"; he had never got
into debt or serious trouble. Even in the midst of the whirling maze
of London life he continued steadfastly sober and sedate.
Here at once was to be found the germ of discord between mother and
son, the first gap or chink in their friendly relations, which might
widen some day into a yawning breach. But yet Mrs.
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