air
back against her wall, he said:

"The firm has asked me to go to China for them."

His mother turned, her whole face lit up with interest.

"To China! How interesting!" she said. "China is a wonderful country. How
I should like to go to China!"

"Come along. I don't start for two weeks."

She shook her head.

"No, if you go, I'll make a trip to that hypnotic clinic of Dr.
Platerbridge's; and if I can learn the trick, I will open one here."

The idea crossed Wayne's mind that perhaps he had not the power of
inspiring affection.

"You don't miss people a bit, do you, Mother?" he said.

"Yes, Pete, I do; only there is so much to be done. What does Mathilde
say to you going off like this? How long will you be gone?"

"More than a year."

"Pete, how awful for her!"

"There is nothing to prevent her going with me."

"You couldn't take that child to China."

"You may be glad to know that she is cordially of your opinion."

The feeling behind his tone at last attracted his mother's full
attention.

"But, my dear boy," she said gently, "she has never been anywhere in her
life without a maid. She probably doesn't know how to do her hair or mend
her clothes or anything practical."

"Mother dear, you are not so awfully practical yourself," he answered;
"but you would have gone."

Mrs. Wayne looked impish.

"I always loved that sort of thing," she said; and then, becoming more
maternal, she added, "and that doesn't mean it would be sensible because
I'd do it."

"Well,"--Wayne stood up preparatory to leaving the room,--"I mean to take
her if she'll go."

His mother, who had now finished winding her braid very neatly around her
head, sank into a chair.

"Oh, dear!" she said, "I almost wish I weren't dining with Mr. Lanley.
He'll think it's all my fault."

"I doubt if he knows about it."

Mrs. Wayne's eyes twinkled.

"May I tell him? I should like to see his face."

"Tell him I am going, if you like. Don't say I want to take her with me."

Her face fell.

"That wouldn't be much fun," she answered, "because I suppose the truth
is they won't be sorry to have you out of the way."

"I suppose not," he said, and shut the door behind him. He could not
truthfully say that his mother had been much of a comfort. He had
suddenly thought that he would go down to the first floor and get Lily
Parret to go to the theater with him. He and she had the warm friendship
for each other of two handsome, healthy y