CHAPTER XXXI

Duly shaved with one of Stanley's razors, bathed, and breakfasted, Felix was on the point of getting into the car to return to Joyfields when he received a message from his mother: Would he please go up and see her before he went?

He found her looking anxious and endeavoring to conceal it.

Having kissed him, she drew him to her sofa and said: "Now, darling, come and sit down here, and tell me all about this DREADFUL business." And taking up an odorator she blew over him a little cloud of scent. "It's quite a new perfume; isn't it delicious?"

Felix, who dreaded scent, concealed his feelings, sat down, and told her. And while he told her he was conscious of how pathetically her fastidiousness was quivering under those gruesome details--fighting with policemen, fighting with common men, prison--FOR A LADY; conscious too of her still more pathetic effort to put a good face on it. When he had finished she remained so perfectly still, with lips so hard compressed, that he said:

"It's no good worrying, Mother."

Frances Freeland rose, pulled something hard, and a cupboard appeared. She opened it, and took out a travelling-bag.

"I must go back with you at once," she said.

"I don't think it's in the least necessary, and you'll only knock yourself up."

"Oh, nonsense, darling! I must."

Knowing that further dissuasion would harden her determination, Felix said: "I'm going in the car."

"That doesn't matter. I shall be ready in ten minutes. Oh! and do you know this? It's splendid for taking lines out under the eyes!" She was holding out a little round box with the lid off. "Just wet your finger with it, and dab it gently on."

Answer the following questions:
1. Where is Felix going back to?
2. How is he traveling?
3. What stopped him from leaving?
4. From who?
5. What does she want?
6. Does Felix like perfume?
7. Does his mother know that?
8. What did she spray at him?
9. what was holding it?
10. Does she like the smell?
11. Does she like to travel by car?
12. What does she want to know about?
13. What does she want him to talk about?
14. Are they standing up?
15. what are they seated on?
16. Was someone fighting?
17. With who?
18. Anyone else?
19. Who?
20. Is she planing on riding back to Joyfields with him?

Numbered answers:
1. Joyfields
2. car
3. he received a message
4. his mother
5. to see her
6. no
7. no
8. cloud of scent.
9. an odorator
10. yes
11. no
12. Would he go see her before he went
13. DREADFUL business
14. no
15. sofa
16. yes
17. policemen
18. yes
19. common men
20. yes