he put

down his tankard on the table in a way that betrayed his

suppressed
anger. He moved once more to stand by the window, looking out,
his
body taut, his hand resting high against the wall, clearly
quite put
out by his brother's seemingly irresponsible behaviour and his
friend's
easy tendency to condone it.

"Your condemnation is unnecessarily severe, William," Edgar

demurred.
"Why--theatres are growing in popularity all the time and there
are
some refined, extremely talented and highly versatile actors
and
actresses on the London stage. I know several myself--and sol
do you,
come to think of it. There's many a time you've taken a box at
Drury
Lane."

"They can be an amusing form of diversion, I grant you both

versatile
on stage as well as off," William replied with irony. "During
my
absence, it appears that my brother has become an ardent
visitor to the
gaming halls as well as the theatre, and an expert in
dispensing his
favours and his money with merry abandon. I have a distinct
feeling
that he is about to plunge the whole family into a frightful
scandal."

Having finished her own meal, Rachel was sitting quietly in the
corner
of the room with Harry, patiently attentive as she tried to
coax him to
eat some of the mutton and vegetable stew the landlord had
recommended,
hoping it would dispel his pallor and help revive his spirits a
little.