CHAPTER III
e AFTERNOON  OF A DRYAD '
fleur was still gracefully concealing most of what Michael
called £ the eleventh baronet,' now due in about two
months' time. She seemed to be adapting herself, in mind
and body, to the quiet and persistent collection of the heir.
Michael knew that, from the first, following the instructions
of her mother, she had been influencing his sex, repeating
to herself, every evening before falling asleep, and every
morning on waking the words: " Day by day, in every
way, he is getting more and more male," to infect the
subconscious which, everybody now said, controlled the
course of events; and that she was abstaining from the
words : " I will have a boy," for this, setting up a reaction,
everybody said, was liable to produce a girl. Michael
noted that she turned more and more to her mother, as if
the French, or more naturalistic, side of her, had taken
charge of a process which had to do with the body. She
was frequently at Mapledurham, going down in Soames*
car, and her mother was frequently in South Square.
Annette's handsome presence, with its tendency to black
lace was always pleasing to Michael, who had never for-
gotten her espousal of his suit in days when it was a forlorn
hope. Though he still felt only on the threshold of Fleur's
heart, and was preparing to play second fiddle to * the
eleventh baronet,' he was infinitely easier in mind since
Wilfrid had been gone. And he watched, with a sort of
amused adoration, the way in which she focussed her