rned. And they were not offering to help him. His vigilant pride,
still sore from the blow that Cecily had dealt it, was on the look-out
for that. But the triumph of the morning, no less than the manner of the
men, reassured him. It is in its way an exciting moment for a young man
when he first receives proof that his seniors, the men of actual
achievement and admitted ability, think that there is something in him,
that he can be of service to them, that it is in his power, if it be in
his will, to emerge from the ruck and take a leading place. Harry was
glad for himself; he would have been touched had he spared time to
observe how delighted old Neeld was on his account. They made him no
gift; they asked work from him, and Iver, true to his traditions and
ingrained ideas, asked money as a guarantee for the work. "You give me
back what I'm going to pay you," he said, "and since you've taken such
an interest in Blinkhampton, turn to and see what you can make of it. It
looked as if there was a notion or two worth considering in those plans
of yours."

Southend agreed to every suggestion with an emphatic nod. But there was
something more in his mind. With every evidence of capability that
Harry showed, even with every increase in the chances of his attaining
position and wealth for himself, the prospect of success in the other
scheme--the scheme still secret--grew brighter. The thought of that
queer little woman Madame Zabriska, Harry's champion, came into his
mind. He would have something to tell her, if ever they met again at
Lady Evenswood's. He would have something to tell Lady Evenswood herself
too. He quite forgot his curry--and Colonel Wilmot Edge, who derived his
importance from it.

Nothing was settled; there were only suggestions for Harry to think
over. But he was left quite clear that everything depended on himself
alone, that he had only to will and to work, and a career of prosperous
activity was before him. The day had more than fulfilled its promise;
what had seemed its great triumph appeared now to be valuable only as an
introduction and a prelude to something larger and more real. Already he
was looking back with some surprise on the extreme gravity which he had
attached to his little Blinkhampton speculation. He grew very readily
where he was given room to grow; and all the while there was the impulse
to show himself--and others too--that he did not depend on Blent or on
having Blent. Blent or no Blent,