Felix a Novel

s own people. At tea in the familiar low-roofed drawing-room he looked at them with eager, inquiring eyes. His mother was totally unchanged, calm and gentle as usual. Her face was lit up by a shining happiness which made her seem quite young. Felix smiled as he noticed her icewool shawl lying on the sofa beside her when she sat down and took up the silver teapot. He was glad to see it again, and felt inclined to pick up the dear old thing and stroke it. Then he glanced at Margot, who was sitting in her characteristic position, which he remembered so well, squarely on her low chair with her small feet slightly turned in. Her sensitive, brown eyes were fixed ardently on her brother, and when she met his eyes she blushed. He was conscious of her shyness, and suddenly began to share it. For a moment he could think of nothing to say. Mrs. Wilding distributed the teacups quietly. Margot, having begun to blush, became quite violently red. Felix looked away from her towards the latticed windows, which were shut. 'Why, mater,, he said, 'it,s quite warm to-day, and we aren,t getting any air. Shan,t I open one of the windows ?, 'Well, I don,t know. The wind,s in the east, Felix,' said Mrs. Wilding with some hesitation. ' But there isn,t any wind. Have you got a cold ?, ' A slight one. But you might open the far window in the other room., Felix got up to do it, and Mrs. Wilding picked up her shawl and put it round her shoulders. When he had opened the window, Feli... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.