I had no guess at my friends plan, and was
concerned to doprecisely as I was told.
Eton and Christ Church had polished him till he
fairlyglistened.
He went about in a dream, with staring,
unseeingeyes, like a puzzled child.
Youre looking younger than when I saw you
last.
I turned out of the Park at Grosvenor Gate and went
downPark Lane.
Notbeing accustomed to the pick, these were one
mass of sores. You know Im a baby inbusiness, though youre too polite to tell me
so.
I take great credit to myself for seeing instantly
thatyou were harmless.
I put some coals on the fire, changed into a tweed
jacket, and lita pipe. He came to have an almostmystical feeling about it. In
particular, six followed me to England withinstructions that I must not return.
Casual charity is an easy dopefor the conscience, and I indulge in it too
often.
Summer came, and sleet and icy winds gave place to
dust and heat. No, said the man called Manuel, and there was something very
grimabout his quiet tones.
I was to bethe bait for my enemies, so I showed
myself to the remaining four. Notbeing accustomed to the pick, these were one mass
of sores. In particular, six followed me to England withinstructions that I must not
return.
Then he cursed himselffor a fool and a
child.
Its all right, said the latter, never moving a
muscle. The incident considerably improved hisposition. In the fall the work on the
dam was shut down, and the store wasclosed. Forgive metaking charge, but I assure
you it is important. It was like theknocking in Macbeth for dramatic effect. My man,
who did not sleepon the premises, had left the light burning in the little hall. He
has not the northernphlegm of you and me and Mr. The telephone bell rang, and he
made a long arm for the receiver.
He smiled happily and blew a smoke-ring into the
air.
I said no more, but led the way into my
sitting-room.
Mollies dining-room had been stuffy, I had been in
court all day, and I wantedsome fresh air.
I wanted a chance to break up the covey,and your
arrival gave it me. The foundations of his world wereupset, and he hadnt a notion
what to do about it.
To add to everythingelse he was desperately casual.
I believe hewelcomed all that as a kind of atonement.
Lawrence shore was a big fishing-lodge ownedby a
rich New Yorker.
You havent been bred the right way to succeedin the
Dominions. Well, he had cried off on the telephone an hour before, and Molliewas
grievously disappointed. It is asubject which most men are a little shy of
discussing.