then remembered how exceedingly
little Hilary would be earning, and that perhaps one need, because of the
babies.

"Or perhaps I can get taken on as a clerk in some business," he amended.
"Or in a bank; only I don't believe my sums or manners are good enough
for a bank, really.... Oh, well, I must see what I can squeeze into.
Perhaps Leslie can think of something. And perhaps the Robinsons will
interest themselves in me, though they'll be even more disgusted at our
downfall than they were when I took up my profession, and they thought
that perfectly idiotic. They always do think we're perfectly idiotic, and
now they'll know we're something worse. But they may help me to a job, if
I bother them enough.... Anyhow, I'll be one of your boarders, if I may."

"You darling," said Peggy, beaming at him. "It'll give the house quite a
different feeling if you're in it. And how delighted the babies will be.
I believe we're going to have the fine time, after all, in spite of
this bothersome business. Hurrah for London and no mosquitoes! And we'll
be quite near a Catholic church, the way the children'll be able to run
in and out as they do here, and not pick up heathen customs. Why, Hilary,
I'm really pleased!"

Peggy was splendid. She was nearly always really pleased.

They started for England a week later. In the course of that week two
things happened. One was that Leslie gave Peter the Berovieri goblet for
his own.

"You've got to take it," he said. "If you don't, I shall give it back to
the prince. I've no right to it; I can't appreciate it properly. Since I
first saw you look at the thing I knew it was really yours. Take it and
keep it. You won't let me do anything else for you, but you shall let me
do that."

Peter looked at it with wistful love. His fingers lingered about its
exquisiteness.

"It will break," he said. "My things do break. Break and get lost, and go
with the dust. Or thieves will break in and steal it. I shan't be able to
keep it, I know; I'm such a bad hand at keeping things."

"Well, well, have a try," said Leslie. So Peter took it and was glad. It
was his one link with the world of exquisiteness and new-burnished joys
out of which he was being thrust; he would keep it if he could.

Leslie also said that he could get him a place in a business, if he
really wanted one.

"I shall be extremely little use," said Peter.

"Extremely little," Leslie agreed. "You'd much better not try. But if you
must