re, it mustreturn after a while to face the minor troubles of the futurethat is immediate. The prospect of a v

e appearance of his name in the BirthdayHonours--the fact that in all probability he would be taken againthis morning to watch the continuation of that infernalcricket-ma

there been sufficient to cause theteams of Surrey and Kent to postpone the second instalment oftheir serial struggle? He rose from the table and went out intothe hall. It was his purpose to sally out into Grosvenor Squarea

been among his hardest tasks tolearn the lesson that the perfect gentleman does not open doorsbut waits for the appropriate menial to come along and do it forhim. He had succeeded at length in mastering this great truth,a

woman in the early fortieswhose appearance seemed somehow oddly familiar. The second was asmall, fat, blobby, bulging boy who was chewing something. Thethird,

those roomy suits with square shoulders whichto the seeing eye are as republican as the Stars and Stripes. Hisblunt-toed yellow shoes sang gaily of home. And his hat was notso much a hat as an effusive greet

she had not unnaturally mistaken him for thebutler, she took for a silent

eNesta who was some day to be pulverised by the sight of his namein the Birthday Honours. He was profoundly thankful that she hadmistaken him for the butler. A chill passed through him as hepictured what would have been Eugenia's reception of theinformation that he had committed such a bourgeois solecism asopening the front door to Mrs. Pett of all people, who alreadydespised

hatbutlers did and what they said on these occasions, for in his

llowedby the drove of Petts: then, opening the door, stood

her-in-law, it is curious to reflect that his manner at this,their first meeting, had deeply impressed her. After many monthsof smouldering revolt she had dismissed her own butler a day or

stakable look of a manabout to be present at a row between women, and only a wet cat ina strange back-yard

that, when a hand was laid lightly upon his arm as he was aboutto follow his wife into the room, he started so violently thathis ha

ant race?" said this strange

d a blank stare ofamazement. Such, however, is the almost superhuman intelligenceand quickness of min

"Wow!" said

f Mr. Pett, the overmastering joy of thebaseball fan who in a strange land unexpectedly enc

em slumping?" enq

n those boyslead the league till the end of August and

the Cubs the day before I sailed!""Fine!"At this point an appreciation of the unusualne

know anything about b

ame over his wholeappearance. He had the

a few of the American idioms while in thecountry." He smiled apologetically. "They sometimes slip out.""Let 'em slip!" said Mr. Pett with enthusiasm. "You're the firstthing that's reminded me of home since I

It was like beinghome again to see a hat like that. He followed M

along the hall, hurry

elyinteresting piece of news in his halfpenny morning paper,

at Mrs. Pett is waiting to see her. She's in themorning-room. If you're asked, say

ith that game to-day?""I hardly think it probable that there will be play, sir. Therewas

he aristocracy of England had shown herthat, while the men occasionally permitted themselves anoutburst, the women never did, and she had schooled herself sorigorously that nowadays she seldom even raised her voice. Herbearing

to find three person

Old Home Week of Petts, a kind of Pett family mob-scene. Hersister's second marriage having taken place after their quarrel,she had

g, Eugenia," s

his clothes looked, whatabsurdly shaped shoes he wore, how appalling his hat was, howlittle hair he had and how deplorably he lacked all tho

s sister-in-law of his had married. Hepictured him as a handsome, powerful, robust individual with astrong jaw and a loud voice, for he could imagine no lesser typeof man consenting to link his lot with such a woma

urse, you know,

uch the appearance of having been hewn from the living rock that

art_ of the early Chinese school, a glance similarto that which had just disposed of his step-father. But Ogdenrequired more than a glance to divert him from any pursuit in whichhe was interest

and sit down,"

Are you making a long stay i

cker

o had possessed himself of a bronzepaper-knife, had begun to tap the vase

rs. Crocker ina detached voice, "let me ring for the

the window. He stood looking out into the square, a slighttwitchin

ngaging child!" mur

ere to discuss Ogde

en Mrs. Otho Lanners,from whom she had lea

ne to which Mrs. Crocker had subjected herself in thematter of the display of emotion saved her from the humiliationof showing surprise

human opossum, came to life. He had contrived tocreate about himself such a defensive atmosphere of non-existencet

pushed the tombstone to oneside and

im!" he murmure

ly impertinentof them!"In spite of his misery, a wan

t--!""Peter!"Mr. Pett die

York papers refer to J

roc

luctantly from the cerements. He had s

on a newspaper--suddenly taken off to Englandto become a London dude--mixing with all the dukes, playingpinochl

y wish. So they have published articlesabout James' doings in English Society?""Doing

tt endor

se her health if these

ws, but she had hard work to kee

ealousy, Nesta . . ."Mrs. Pett

paper and came upon a full page articleabout your nephew having got intoxicated at the races and foughta book-maker--having broken up a

eemed that theystill lived in print. There and then she registered the resolveto talk to her step-son James

why Ihave come to you. It must stop. And the only way it can be made tostop is by taking your step-son away from London where he isrunning wild. Peter has most kindly consented to give the boy aposition in his office. It is very good of him, for the boy cann

?"Mrs. Crocker ra

ndeed!"Mr. Pett cowed in his chair. He was feeling rather like a nervousand peace-loving patron of a wild western saloon who observes twocowboys reach for their hip-pockets. Neither his wife n

aordinary!"

s in no mood f

being ruined here. For his sake, if not formine--"Mrs. Crocker laughed another

ondon Society, James was a little wild, but allthat sort of thing is over now. He knows"--she paused, settingherself as it were for the punch--"he kn

ringed fingers before her mouth i

w? But of course you l

behavein a suitable manner. He is a dear boy! He was handicapped atfirst by getting into the wrong set, but now his closest friendis Lord Percy Whipple, the second son of the Duke of Dev

our great friend, Lord Wisbeach."Mrs. Crocker was a little taken aback.

w Lord Wisbea

rs. Pett, beginning t

ways says that he lookson my house as quite

, I think, knowing us."Mrs. Crocker

Wizzy!" she s

Pett

s still the same dear, s

d the world,and he has stopped in New York! How like

ker raised

ppose, after Lord Perc

n defeat. She collectedOgden and Mr. Pett with an eye which even

traordinary!"The _cortege_ left the room in silence. Mrs. Crocker had touchedthe bell, but the mourners did not wait for the arrival ofBayliss. They were in no mood for the

upstairs to her room. If Bayliss had not beenwithin earshot, she would probably have sung a bar or two. Heramiability extended even to her step-son, though she had notaltered her

down into thehall. Bayliss, who had finished telephoning to the garage forMrs. Crocker's limousine and was about

ing, Mr. Jam