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。 He wished to take no part whatever in the ing interview。
〃Ogden； of course； you know；〃 said Mrs。 Pett。
She was sitting so stiffly upright on a hard chair and had so much the appearance of having been hewn from the living rock that every time she opened her mouth it was as if a statue had spoken。
〃I know Ogden；〃 said Mrs。 Crocker shortly。
〃Will you please stop him fidgeting with that vase？ It is valuable。〃
She directed at little Ogden； who was juggling aimlessly with a handsome objet d'art of the early Chinese school； a glance similar to that which had just disposed of his step…father。 But Ogden required more than a glance to divert him from any pursuit in which he was interested。 He shifted a deposit of candy from his right cheek to his left cheek； inspected Mrs。 Crocker for a moment with a pale eye； and resumed his juggling。 Mrs。 Crocker meant nothing in his young life。
〃Ogden； e and sit down；〃 said Mrs。 Pett。
〃Don't want to sit down。〃
〃Are you making a long stay in England； Nesta？〃 asked Mrs。 Crocker coldly。
〃I don't know。 We have made no plans。〃
〃Indeed？〃
She broke off。 Ogden； who had possessed himself of a bronze paper…knife； had begun to tap the vase with it。 The ringing note thus produced appeared to please his young mind。
〃If Ogden really wishes to break that vase；〃 said Mrs。 Crocker in a detached voice； 〃let me ring for the butler to bring him a hammer。〃
〃Ogden！〃 said Mrs。 Pett。
〃Oh Gee！ A fellow can't do a thing！〃 muttered Ogden； and walked to the window。 He stood looking out into the square； a slight twitching of the ears indicating that he still made progress with the candy。
〃Still the same engaging child！〃 murmured Mrs。 Crocker。
〃I did not e here to discuss Ogden！〃 said Mrs。 Pett。
Mrs。 Crocker raised her eyebrows。 Not even Mrs。 Otho Lanners； from whom she had learned the art； could do it more effectively。
〃I am still waiting to find out why you did e； Nesta！〃
〃I came here to talk to you about your step…son； James Crocker。〃
The discipline to which Mrs。 Crocker had subjected herself in the matter of the display of emotion saved her from the humiliation of showing surprise。 She waved her hand graciouslyin the manner of the Duchess of Axminster； a supreme hand…waverto indicate that she was all attention。
〃Your step…son； James Crocker；〃 repeated Mrs。 Pett。 〃What is it the New York papers call him； Peter？〃
Mr。 Pett； the human opossum； came to life。 He had contrived to create about himself such a defensive atmosphere of non…existence that now that he re…entered the conversation it was as if a corpse had popped out of its tomb like a jack…in…the…box。
Obeying the voice of authority； he pushed the tombstone to one side and poked his head out of the sepulchre。
〃Piccadilly Jim！〃 he murmured apologetically。
〃Piccadilly Jim！〃 said Mrs。 Crocker。 〃It is extremely impertinent of them！〃
In spite of his misery； a wan smile appeared on Mr。 Pett's death…mask at this remark。
〃They should worry about！〃
〃Peter！〃
Mr。 Pett died again； greatly respected。
〃Why should the New York papers refer to James at all？〃 said Mrs。 Crocker。
〃Explain； Peter！〃
Mr。 Pett emerged reluctantly from the cerements。 He had supposed that Nesta would do the talking。
〃Well； he's a news…item。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Well； here's a boy that's been a regular fellowraised in Americadone work on a newspapersuddenly taken off to England to bee a London dudemixing with all the dukes； playing pinochle with the Kingnaturally they're interested in him。〃
A more agreeable expression came over Mrs。 Crocker's face。
〃Of course； that is quite true。 One cannot prevent the papers from printing what they wish。 So they have published articles about James' doings in English Society？〃
〃Doings；〃 said Mr。 Pett； 〃is right！〃
〃Something has got to be done about it；〃 said Mrs。 Pett。
Mr。 Pett endorsed this。
〃Nesta's going to lose her health if these stories go on；〃 he said。
Mrs。 Crocker raised her eyebrows； but she had hard work to keep a contented smile off her face。
〃If you are not above petty jealousy； Nesta 。 。 。〃
Mrs。 Pett laughed a sharp； metallic laugh。
〃It is the disgrace I object to！〃
〃The disgrace！〃
〃What else would you call it； Eugenia？ Wouldn't you be ashamed if you opened your Sunday paper and came upon a full page article about your nephew having got intoxicated at the races and fought a book…makerhaving broken up a political meetinghaving been sued for breach…of…promise by a barmaid 。 。 。〃
Mrs。 Crocker preserved her well…bred calm； but she was shaken。 The episodes to which her sister had alluded were ancient history； horrors of the long…dead past； but it seemed that they still lived in print。 There and then she registered the resolve to talk to her step…son James when she got hold of him in such a manner as would scourge the offending Adam out of him for once and for all。
〃And not only that；〃 continued Mrs。 Pett。
〃That would be bad enough in itself； but somehow the papers have discovered that I am the boy's aunt。 Two weeks ago they printed my photograph with one of these articles。 I suppose they will always do it now。 That is why I have e to you。 It must stop。 And the only way it can be made to stop is by taking your step…son away from London where he is running wild。 Peter has most kindly consented to give the boy a position in his office。 It is very good of him； for the boy cannot in the nature of things be of any use for a very long time； but we have talked it over and it seems the only course。 I have e this morning to ask you to let us take James Crocker back to America with us and keep him out of mischief by giving him honest work。 What do you say？〃
Mrs。 Crocker raised her eyebrows。
〃What do you expect me to say？ It is utterly preposterous。 I have never heard anything so supremely absurd in my life。〃
〃You refuse？〃
〃Of course I refuse。〃
〃I think you are extremely foolish。〃
〃Indeed！〃
Mr。 Pett cowed in his chair。 He was feeling rather like a nervous and peace…loving patron of a wild western saloon who observes two cowboys reach for their hip…pockets。 Neither his wife nor his sister…in…law paid any attention to him。 The concluding exercises of a duel of the eyes was in progress between them。 After some silent； age…long moments； Mrs。 Crocker laughed a light laugh。
〃Most extraordinary！〃 she murmured。
Mrs。 Pett was in no mood for Anglicisms。
〃You know perfectly well； Eugenia；〃 she said heatedly； 〃that James Crocker is being ruined here。 For his sake； if not for mine〃
Mrs。 Crocker laughed another light laugh； one of those offensive rippling things which cause so much annoyance。
〃Don't be so ridiculous； Nesta！ Ruined！ Really！ It is quite true that； a long while ago when he was much younger and not quite used to the ways of London Society； James was a little wild； but all that sort of thing is over now。 He knows〃she paused； setting herself as it were for the punch〃he knows that at any moment the government may decide to give his father a Peerage 。 。 。〃
The blow went home。 A quite audible gasp escaped her stricken sister。
〃What！〃
Mrs。 Crocker placed two ringed fingers before her mouth in order not to hide a languid yawn。
〃Yes。 Didn't you know？ But of course you live so out of the world。 Oh yes； it is extremely probable that Mr。 Crocker's name will appear in the next Honours List。 He is very highly thought of by the Powers。 So naturally James is quite aware that he must behave in a suitable manner。 He is a dear boy！ He was handicapped at first by getting into the wrong set； but now his closest friend is Lord Percy Whipple； the second son of the Duke of Devizes； who is one of the most eminent men in the kingdom and a personal friend of the Premier。〃 Mrs。 Pett was in bad shape under this rain of titles； but she rallied herself to reply in kind。
〃Indeed？〃 she said。 〃I should like to meet him。 I have no doubt he knows our great friend； Lord Wisbeach。〃
Mrs。 Crocker was a little taken aback。 She had not supposed that her sister had even this small shot in her locker。
〃Do you know Lord Wisbeach？〃 she said。
〃Oh yes；〃 replied Mrs。 Pett； beginning to feel a little better。 〃We have been seeing him every day。 He always says that he looks on my house as quite a home。 He knows so few people in New York。 It has been a great fort to him； I think； knowing us。〃
Mrs。 Crocker had had time now to recover her poise。
〃Poor dear Wizzy！〃 she said languidly。
Mrs。 Pett started。
〃What！〃
〃I suppose he is still the same dear； stupid； shiftless fellow？ He left here with the intention of travelling round the world； and he has stopped in New York！ How like him！〃
〃Do you know Lord Wisbeach？〃 demanded Mrs。 Pett。
Mrs。 Crocker raised her eyebrows。
〃Know him？ Why； I suppose； after Lord Percy Whipple； he is James' most intimate friend！〃
Mrs。 Pett rose。 She was dignified even in defeat。 She collected Ogden and Mr。 Pett with an eye which even Ogden could see was not to be trifled with。 She uttered no word。
〃Must you really go？〃 said Mrs。 Crocker。 〃It was sweet of you to bother to e all the way from America like this。 So strange to meet any one from America nowadays。 Most extraordinary！〃
The cortege left the room in silence。 Mrs。 Crocker had touched the bell； but the mourners did not wait for the arrival of Bayliss。 They were in no mood for the formalities of polite Society。 They wanted to be elsewhere； and they wanted to be there quick。 The front door had closed behind them before the butler reached the morning…room。
〃Bayliss；〃 said Mrs。 Crocker with happy； shining face； 〃send for the car to e round at once。〃
〃Very good； madam。〃
〃Is Mr。 James up yet？〃
〃I believe not； madam。〃
Mrs。 Crocker went upstairs to her room。 If Bayliss had not been within earshot； she would probably have sung a bar or two。 Her amiability extended even to her step…son； though she had not altered her intention of speaking eloquently to him on certain matters when she could get hold of him。 That； however； could wait。 For the moment； she felt in vein for a gentle drive in the Park。
A few minutes after she had disappeared； there was a sound of slow footsteps on the stairs； and a young man came down into the hall。 Bayliss； who had finished telephoning to the garage for Mrs。 Crocker's limousine and was about to descend to those lower depths where he had his being； turned； and a grave smile of wele played over his face。
〃Good morning； Mr。 James；〃 he said。
CHAPTER IV
JIMMY'S DISTURBING NEWS
JIMMY CROCKER was a tall and well…knit young man who later on in the day would no doubt be at least passably good…looking。 At the moment an unbeing pallor marred his face； and beneath his eyes were marks that suggested that he had slept little and ill。 He stood at the foot of the stairs； yawning cavernously。
〃Bayliss；〃 he said； 〃have you been painting yourself yellow？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Strange！ Your face looks a bright gamboge to me； and your outlines wobble。 Bayliss； never mix your drinks。 I say this to you as a friend。 Is there any one in the morning…room？〃
〃No； Mr。 James。〃
〃Speak softly； Bayliss； for I am not well。 I am conscious of a strange weakness。 Lead me to the morning…room； then； and lay me gently on a sofa。 These are the times that try men's souls。〃
The sun was now shining strongly through the windows of the morning…room。 Bayliss lowered the shades。 Jimmy Crocker sank onto the sofa； and closed his eyes。
〃Bayliss。〃
〃Sir？〃
〃A conviction is stealing over me that I am about to expire。〃
〃Shall I bring you a little breakfast； Mr。 James？〃
A strong shudder shook Jimmy。
〃Don't be flippant； Bayliss；〃 he protested。 〃Try to cure yourself of this passion for being funny at the wrong time。 Your edy is good； but tact is a finer quality than humour。 Perhaps you think I have forgotten that morning when I was feeling just as I do to…day and you came to my bedside and asked me if I would like a nice rasher of ham。 I haven't and I never shall。 You may bring me a brandy…and…soda。 Not a large one。 A couple of bath…tubs full will be enough。〃
〃Very good； Mr。 James。〃
〃And now leave me； Bayliss； for I would be alone。 I have to make a series of difficult and exhaustive tests to ascertain whether I am still alive。〃
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