for all her
contempt for the bike, she displayed even more anxiety than Pa. With those
fat freaks at the Castle and if engagements continued scarce, how would
they manage, later on, lost in that huge London, with no money, and a
child to feed? Her vanity was wounded as well. She had dreamed of dazzling
her sister-in-law, making them all burst with jealousy over the splendid
engagement at the Castle; and now everything was slipping from their
hands, on the very day of their arrival, and there was nothing for them
but to sit at home and keep quiet.

But Pa, the next day, tore through London like one possessed, grinding his
teeth and clenching his fists, railing at everybody, himself included. He
thought of Lily, who had lost a week on the voyage and who was now messing
about in the house, instead of practising her bike. This idea pursued him,
clung to him; but his perseverance was indomitable, his courage ready to
face anything or anybody. Lily should perform at the Castle! She had come
to perform there and perform there she should! There were more visits to
the agents, to this one and that one, to one and all, indefatigable
visits. Clifton insisted on his Lily's merits, pulled out his pocket-book,
bursting with press-cuttings, offered to prove his statements. The agent,
on his side, had made inquiries. Lily was very clever for her age: a
little thin, it was true, but very graceful; and the New Zealander on
Wheels ought to get on. Clifton would work up her turn, no doubt. And, at
last, Pa obtained a promise in writing--and signed--of an engagement in
eight months' time ... at the Castle, damn it!

An engagement in eight months was better than nothing; but what to do in
the meanwhile? It wasn't the money question that bothered him; Pa had
money; but Lily worried him: he wanted work for Lily, bike all the time
and hard at it. Now, London was closed to him; he couldn't let her perform
in London before appearing at the Castle; that was in the contract; and
there was nothing for the provinces.

His tenacity continued to do him good service. He got a few offers, in the
London suburbs; that could do him no harm, he knew, though his Lily did
appear at Dulwich, Deptford or West Ham: who would think of going there to
discover that shrimp?... damn their impudence! And meantime the shrimp
would work and her day would come, you pack of fat freaks, you!

Pa, on the whole, was satisfied. To show Lily, that was all he asked for!
He w