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Jimmy stopped。 She had spoken slowly and distinctly； and there could be no possibility that he had misunderstood her； yet he scarcely believed that he had heard her aright。 How could a man named Skinner have been his step…mother's butler？ Bayliss had been with the family ever since they had arrived in London。
〃Are you sure？〃
〃Of course； of course I'm sure。 Aunt Nesta told me herself。 There can't possibly be a mistake； because it was Skinner who let her in when she called on Mrs。 Crocker。 Uncle Peter told me about it。 He had a talk with the man in the hall and found that he was a baseball enthusiast〃
A wild； impossible idea flashed upon Jimmy。 It was so absurd that he felt ashamed of entertaining it even for a moment。 But strange things were happening these times； and it might be 。 。 。 〃What sort of looking man is Skinner？〃
〃Oh； stout； clean…shaven。 I like him。 He's much more human than I thought butlers ever were。 Why？〃
〃Oh； nothing。〃
〃Of course； you can't go back to the house。 You see that？ He would say that you aren't Jimmy Crocker and then you would be arrested。〃
〃I don't see that。 If I am sufficiently like Crocker for his friends to mistake me for him in restaurants； why shouldn't this butler mistake me； too？〃
〃But？〃
〃And； consider。 In any case； there's no harm done。 If he fails to recognise me when he opens the door to us； we shall know that the game is up： and I shall have plenty of time to disappear。 If the likeness deceives him； all will be well。 I propose that we go to the house； ring the bell； and when he appears； I will say 'Ah； Skinner！ Honest fellow！' or words to that effect。 He will either stare blankly at me or fawn on me like a faithful watchdog。 We will base our further actions on which way the butler jumps。〃
The sound of the bell died away。 Footsteps were heard。 Ann reached for Jimmy's arm andclutched it。
〃Now！〃 she whispered。
The door opened。 Next moment Jimmy's suspicion was confirmed。 Gaping at them from the open doorway； wonderfully respectable and butlerlike in swallow…tails； stood his father。 How he came to be there； and why he was there； Jimmy did not know。 But there he was。
Jimmy had little faith in his father's talents as a man of discretion。 The elder Crocker was one of those simple； straight forward people who； when surprised； do not conceal their surprise； and who； not understanding any situation in which they find themselves； demand explanation on the spot。 Swift and immediate action was indicated on his part before his amazed parent； finding him on the steps of the one house in New York where he was least likely to be； should utter words that would undo everything。 He could see the name Jimmy trembling on Mr。 Crocker's lips。
He waved his hand cheerily。
〃Ah； Skinner； there you are！〃 he said breezily。 〃Miss Chester was telling me that you had left my step…mother。 I suppose you sailed on the boat before mine。 I came over on the Caronia。 I suppose you didn't expect to see me again so soon； eh？〃
A spasm seemed to pass over Mr。 Crocker's face； leaving it calm and serene。 He had been thrown his cue； and like the old actor he was he took it easily and without confusion。 He smiled a respectful smile。
〃No； indeed； sir。〃
He stepped aside to allow them to enter。 Jimmy caught Ann's eye as she passed him。 It shone with relief and admiration； and it exhilarated Jimmy like wine。 As she moved towards the stairs； he gave expression to his satisfaction by slapping his father on the back with a report that rang out like a pistol shot。
〃What was that？〃 said Ann； turning。
〃Something out on the Drive； I think；〃 said Jimmy。 〃A car back…firing； I fancy； Skinner。〃
〃Very probably； sir。〃
He followed Ann to the stairs。 As he started to mount them； a faint whisper reached his ears。
〃'At…a…boy！〃
It was Mr。 Crocker's way of bestowing a father's blessing。
Ann walked into the drawing…room； her head high； triumph in the glance which she cast upon her unconscious aunt。
〃Quite an interesting little scene downstairs； aunt Nesta；〃 she said。 〃The meeting of the faithful old retainer and the young master。 Skinner was almost overe with surprise and joy when he saw Jimmy！〃
Mrs。 Pett could not check an incautious exclamation。
〃Did Skinner recognise？〃 she began； then stopped herself abruptly。
Ann laughed。
〃Did he recognise Jimmy？ Of course！ He was hardly likely to have forgotten him； surely？ It isn't much more than a week since he was waiting on him in London。〃
〃It was a very impressive meeting；〃 said Jimmy。 〃Rather like the reunion of Ulysses and the hound Argos； of which this bright…eyed child here〃 he patted Ogden on the head； a proceeding violently resented by that youth〃has no doubt read in the course of his researches into the Classics。 I was Ulysses； Skinner enacted the role of the exuberant dog。〃
Mrs。 Pett was not sure whether she was relieved or disappointed at this evidence that her suspicions had been without foundation。 On the whole； relief may be said to have preponderated。
〃I have no doubt he was pleased to see you again。 He must have been very much astonished。〃
〃He was！〃
〃You will be meeting another old friend in a minute or two；〃 said Mrs。 Pett。
Jimmy had been sinking into a chair。 This remark stopped him in mid…descent。
〃Another！〃
Mrs。 Pett glanced at the clock。
〃Lord Wisbeach is ing to lunch。〃
〃Lord Wisbeach！〃 cried Ann。 〃He doesn't know Jimmy。〃
〃Eugenia informed me in London that he was one of your best friends； James。〃
Ann looked helplessly at Jimmy。 She was conscious again of that feeling of not being able to cope with Fate's blows； of not having the strength to go on climbing over the barriers which Fate placed in her path。
Jimmy； for his part； was cursing the ill fortune that had brought Lord Wisbeach across his path。 He saw clearly that it only needed recognition by one or two more intimates of Jimmy Crocker to make Ann suspect his real identity。 The fact that she had seen him with Bayliss in Paddington Station and had fallen into the error of supposing Bayliss to be his father had kept her from suspecting until now； but this could not last forever。 He remembered Lord Wisbeach well； as a garrulous； irrepressible chatterer who would probably talk about old times to such an extent as to cause Ann to realise the truth in the first five minutes。
The door opened。
〃Lord Wisbeach；〃 announced Mr。 Crocker。
〃I'm afraid I'm late； Mrs。 Pett；〃 said his lordship。
〃No。 You're quite punctual。 Lord Wisbeach； here is an old friend of yours； James Crocker。〃
There was an almost imperceptible pause。 Then Jimmy stepped forward and held out his hand。
〃Hello； Wizzy； old man！〃
〃H…hello； Jimmy！〃
Their eyes met。 In his lordship's there was an expression of unmistakable relief； mingled with astonishment。 His face； which had turned a sickly white； flushed as the blood poured back into it。 He had the appearance of a man who had had a bad shock and is just getting over it。 Jimmy； eyeing him curiously； was not surprised at his emotion。 What the man's game might be； he could not say； but of one thing he was sure； which was that this was not Lord Wisbeach； buton the contrarysome one he had never seen before in his life。
〃Luncheon is served； madam！〃 said Mr。 Crocker sonorously from the doorway。
CHAPTER XV
A LITTLE BUSINESS CHAT
IT was not often that Ann found occasion to rejoice at the presence in her uncle's house of the six geniuses whom Mrs。 Pett had installed therein。 As a rule； she disliked them individually and collectively。 But to…day their pany was extraordinarily wele to her。 They might have their faults； but at least their presence tended to keep the conversation general and prevent it being a duologue between Lord Wisbeach and Jimmy on the subject of old times。 She was still feeling weak from the reaction consequent upon the slackening of the tension of her emotions on seeing Lord Wisbeach greet Jimmy as an old acquaintance。 She had never hoped that that barrier would be surmounted。 She had pictured Lord Wisbeach drawing back with a puzzled frown on his face and an astonished 〃But this is not Jimmy Crocker。〃 The strain had left her relieved； but in no mood for conversation； and she replied absently to the remarks of Howard Bemis； the poet； who sat on her left。 She looked round the table。 Willie Partridge was talking to Mrs。 Pett about the difference between picric acid and trinitrotoluene； than which a pleasanter topic for the luncheon table could hardly be selected and the voice of Clarence Renshaw rose above all other peting noises； as he spoke of the functions of the trochaic spondee。 There was nothing outwardly to distinguish this meal from any other which she had shared of late in that house。
The only thing that prevented her relief being unmixed was the fact that she could see Lord Wisbeach casting furtive glances at Jimmy； who was eating with the quiet concentration of one who； after days of boarding…house fare； finds himself in the presence of the masterpieces of a chef。 In the past few days Jimmy had consumed too much hash to worry now about anything like a furtive glance。 He had perceived Lord Wisbeach's roving eye； and had no doubt that at the conclusion of the meal he would find occasion for a little chat。 Meanwhile； however； his duty was towards his tissues and their restoration。 He helped himself liberally from a dish which his father offered him。
He became aware that Mrs。 Pett was addressing him。
〃I beg your pardon？〃
〃Quite like old times；〃 said Mrs。 Pett genially。 Her suspicions had vanished pletely since Lord Wisbeach's recognition of the visitor； and remorse that she should have suspected him made her unwontedly amiable。 〃Being with Skinner again；〃 she explained。 〃It must remind you of London。〃
Jimmy caught his father's expressionless eye。
〃Skinner's；〃 he said handsomely； 〃is a character one cannot help but respect。 His nature expands before one like some beautiful flower。〃
The dish rocked in Mr。 Crocker's hand； but his face remained impassive。
〃There is no vice in Skinner；〃 proceeded Jimmy。 〃His heart is the heart of a little child。〃
Mrs。 Pett looked at this paragon of the virtues in rather a startled way。 She had an unfortable feeling that she was being laughed at。 She began to dislike Jimmy again。
〃For many years Skinner has been a father to me；〃 said Jimmy。 〃Who ran to help me when I fell； And would some pretty story tell； Or kiss the place to make it well？ Skinner。〃
For all her suspense； Ann could not help warming towards an acplice who carried off an unnerving situation with such a flourish。 She had always regarded herself with a fair degree of placency as possessed of no mean stock of courage and resource； but she could not have spoken then without betraying her anxiety。 She thought highly of Jimmy； but all the same she could not help wishing that he would not make himself quite so conspicuous。 Perhapsthe thought chilled herperhaps he was creating quite a new Jimmy Crocker； a character which would cause Skinner and Lord Wisbeach to doubt the evidence of their eyes and begin to suspect the truth。 She wished she could warn him to simmer down； but the table was a large one and he and she were at opposite ends of it。
Jimmy； meanwhile； was thoroughly enjoying himself。 He felt that he was being the little ray of sunshine about the home and making a good impression。 He was pletely happy。 He liked the food； he liked seeing his father buttle； and he liked these amazing freaks who were； it appeared； fellow…inmates with him of this highly desirable residence。 He wished that old Mr。 Pett could have been present。 He had conceived a great affection for Mr。 Pett； and registered a mental resolve to lose no time in weaning him from his distressing habit of allowing the office to interfere with his pleasures。 He was planning a little trip to the Polo Grounds； in which Mr。 Pett； his father； and a number of pop bottles were to be his panions； when his reverie was interrupted by a sudden cessation of the buzz of talk。 He looked up from his plate； to find the entire pany regarding Willie Partridge open…mouthed。 Willie； with gleaming eyes； was gazing at a small test…tube which he had produced from his pocket and placed beside his plate。
〃I have enoug