ociety--sowhenyouhavemadeyourfortune,youmustebadassertyourselfinLondon."

    "Society!"mutteredthelad."Idontwanttoknowanythingaboutthat.IshouldliketomakesomemoakeyouandSibyloffthestage.Ihateit."

    "Oh,Jim!"saidSibyl,laughing,"howunkindofyou!Butareyoureallygoingforawalkwithme?Thatwillbenice!Iwasafraidyoingtosaygood-byetosomeofyourfriends--toTomHardy,whogaveyouthathideouspipe,orNedLangton,whomakesfunofyouforsmokingit.Itisverysweetofyoutoletmehaveyourlastafternoon.Whereshallwego?Letusgotothepark."

    "Iamtooshabby,"heanswered,frowning."Onlyswellpeoplegotothepark."

    "Nonsense,Jim,"shewhispered,strokingthesleeveofhiscoat.

    Hehesitatedforamoment."Verywell,"hesaidatlast,"butdooolongdressing."Shedaofthedoor.Onecouldhearhersingingassheranupstairs.Herlittlefeetpatteredoverhead.

    Hewalkedupanddowntheroomtwoorthreetimes.Theurhestillfigureinthechair."Mother,aremythingsready?"heasked.

    "Quiteready,James,"sheanswered,keepinghereyesonherwork.Forsomemonthspastshehadfeltillateasewhenshewasalohthisroughsternsonofhers.Hershallowseaturewastroubledwhentheireyesmet.Sheusedtowonderifhesuspectedanything.Thesilenadenootherobservation,becameintolerabletoher.Shebegantoplain.Womehemselvesbyattag,justastheyattackbysuddenandstrangesurrenders."Ihopeyouwillbetented,James,withyoursea-faringlife,"shesaid."Youmustrememberthatitisyourownchoiighthave