All dignity is funny,
simply because it is sham. When dignity is real, you don't know it's
dignity. But your father knew he was being dignified, and you knew you
were being dignified. My dear, what a pair of you!"
Michael frowned.
"But is nothing serious, then?" he asked. "Surely it was serious enough
last night. There was I in rank rebellion to my father, and it vexed him
horribly; it did more, it grieved him."
She laid her hand on Michael's knee.
"As if I didn't know that!" she said. "We're all sorry for that, though
I should have been much sorrier if you had given in and ceased to vex
him. But there it is! Accept that, and then, my dear, swiftly apply
yourself to perceive the humour of it. And now, about your plans!"
"I shall go to Baireuth on Wednesday, and then on to Munich," began
Michael.
"That, of course. Perhaps you may find the humour of a Channel crossing.
I look for it in vain. Yet I don't know. . . . The man who puts on a
yachting-cap, and asks if there's a bit of a sea on. It proves to be the
case, and he is excessively unwell. I must look out for him next time I
cross. And then?"
"Then I shall settle in town and study. Oh, here's my father coming
home.
Pages:
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95