It filled him with a new pleasure to remember that Alfred
had visiting cards presenting his name as D'Aubigny,
which everybody of education knew was what the degenerate
Dabney really stood for. The lad and his sister had
united upon this excellent change long ago at Cheltenham,
and oddly enough they had confessed it to their uncle,
at the beginning of the trip, with a show of trepidation,
as if they feared his anger. With radiant gayety he had
relieved their minds by showing them his card, with "Mr.
Stormont Thorpe" alone upon it. At the dinner table,
in the proudest moment of his life, he had made himself
prouder still by thinking how distinguished an appearance
his and Alfred's cards would make together in the apartment
below next day.
But next day, the relations between the two parties had
already become too informal for cards. Julia went down
to see them; they came up to see Julia. Then they all went
for a long walk, with luncheon at Vevey, and before evening
Alfred was talking confidently of painting Miss Madden.
Next day they went by train to St. Maurice, and,
returning after dark, dined without ceremony together.
This third day--the weather still remaining bright--they had
ascended by the funicular road to Glion, and walked on among
the swarming luegers, up to Caux. Here, after luncheon,
they had wandered about for a time, regarding the panorama
of lake and mountains.
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