Then one evening, after dinner, Clovis
Sangrail put a wasp down her back, to see if her theory about the non-
existence of pain could be depended on in an emergency. The wasp was
small, but very efficient, and it had been soured in temper by being kept
in a paper cage all the afternoon. Wasps don't stand confinement well,
at least this one didn't. I don't think I ever realised till that moment
what the word 'invective' could be made to mean. I sometimes wake in the
night and think I still hear Selina describing Clovis's conduct and
general character. That was the year that Sir Richard was writing his
volume on 'Domestic Life in Tartary.' The critics all blamed it for a
lack of concentration."
"He's engaged on a very important work this year, isn't he?" asked Lena.
"'Land-tenure in Turkestan,'" said Lady Prowche; "he is just at work on
the final chapters and they require all the concentration he can give
them. That is why I am so very anxious not to have any unfortunate
disturbance this year. I have taken every precaution I can think of to
bring non-conflicting and harmonious elements together; the only two
people I am not quite easy about are the Atkinson man and Marcus Popham.
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