When the war broke out, he discovered, to his horror, that Phyllis
actually had political ideas--unshakable, obstinate ideas opposed
to his own--and that he had been nourishing in his bosom a
viperous patriot. Phyllis, for her part, realised with equal
horror the practical significance of her father's windy theories.
When Randall, who had stolen her heart, took to visiting the
house, in order, as far as she could make out, to talk treason
with her father, the strain of the situation grew more than she
could bear. She fled to Betty for advice. Betty promptly stepped
in and whisked her off to the hospital.
It was on the morning on which Randall interviewed me in the
garden, the morning after he had broken with Gedge that Phyllis,
having a little off-time, went home. She found her father in the
office making out a few bills. He thrust forward his long chin and
aggressive beard and scowled at her.
"Oh, it's you, is it? Come at last where your duty calls you, eh?"
"I always come when I can, father," she replied.
She bent down and kissed his cheek. He caught her roughly round
the waist and, leaning back in his chair, looked up at her sourly.
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