errupt the reading? No, I think not. He mightn't be pleased.'

'He looked,' said Mrs. Venables, 'as if he was entering into the life of
the quite poor. That would be an enterprise of immense interest if one
could really accomplish it, really break down the barriers. We must find
the boy, Warren.'

'All right, we'll try. But I expect he's just scum, you know. There are
lots like him in every big town; it drifts about the bottom, that sort,
and personally I don't think it's anything in its favour that it's by
way of being--or having been--a gentleman. But I've no doubt you'd like
it, mother, so we'll look for Crevequer. Only its not an easy sort to
find, I warn you. Nomadic, you know.... Oh, of course Crevequer may be
just on the spree for to-night; he may dress better as a rule.'

The impression of Mr. Crevequer seemed to remain with Mrs. Venables,
standing out above the other dishes of her orgie. She returned to her
hotel replete.

Tommy Crevequer met his sister at the door of the Fondo Theatre, and
walked home with her. He mentioned Venables.

'Head of my house in my first year at school. He was decent to me,
rather. I don't suppose he knew me to-night; he had some one with him,
so I didn't stop him; but I wouldn't mind meeting him again.'

It was quite clear that he would not mind in the least. The Crevequers
never minded meeting people; they were very sociable.

Betty said that Morello had asked her to sit to him.

'I suppose I'd better--had I? It will bore me quite awfully, but it
would be extravagant not to, of course. And he's asked Gina and me to
supper to-morrow. You'd better come too; it may be fun.'

Tommy hummed an air.

'He's a silly ass, Morello is. But we'll have supper with him by all
means, particularly with him and Gina; Gina's great sport.... It's
struck me, Betty, that perhaps Venables did know me, and was feeling
proud or something. If he's proud I should love to meet him again, and
introduce him to--to Luli and every one. It would be our duty, don't you
think? But Venables used to be an awfully good sort--I don't believe
he's really proud--and if we do run into him again, we'll take him about
with us.... I'm awfully hard up just now.'

The Crevequers did not suffer from pride.

Three weeks later, Venables walked into the Crevequers' room. It was
about six o'clock; the Crevequers had guests, who smoked and drank wine
and conversed. Tommy Crevequer sat astride on the table; Betty was on