326

XLIV. ~"The Lost Heiress"~ 335

XLV. ~"The Literary Life"~ 340

SUCCESSFUL MEN

XLVI. ~The Solicitor~ 349

XLVII. ~The Painter~ 356

XLVIII. ~The Barrister~ 363

XLIX. ~The Civil Servant~ 370

L. ~The Actor~ 377

LI. ~The Collector~ 384

LII. ~The Statesman~ 391

LIII. ~The Magnate~ 400

LIV. ~The Adventurer~ 407

LV. ~The Explorer~ 414

LVI. ~The Newspaper Proprietor~ 421

MARGERY

I. HER SOCK

I

When Margery was three months old I wrote a letter to her mother:

_Dear Madam_,--If you have a copy in Class D at 1/10d. net, I shall
be glad to hear from you.

I am,
~The Baby's Uncle.~

On Tuesday I got an answer by the morning post:

_Dear Sir_,--In reply to yours: How dare you insult my child? She is
in Class A1, priceless and bought in by the owner. Four months old
(and two days) on Christmas Day. Fancy!

I am,
~The Baby's Mother.~

Margery had been getting into an expensive way of celebrating her
birthday every week. Hitherto I had ignored it. But now I wrote:

_Dear Madam_,--Automatically your baby should be in Class D by now.
I cannot understand why it is not so. Perhaps I shall hear from you
later on with regard to this. Meanwhile I think that the
extraordinary coincidence (all but two days) of the baby's birthday
with Christmas Day calls for some recognition on my part. What would
Margery like? You, who are in constant communication with her,
should be able to tell me. I hear coral necklaces well spoken of.
What do you think? I remember reading once of a robber who "killed a
little baby for the coral on its neck"--which shows at any rate that
they are worn. Do you know how coral reefs are made? It is a most
fascinating business.

Then there is a silver mug to be consi