nder. "Wholly then through HER
attitude?"

"Altogether."

Again he hesitated. "You've asked her?"

"I've asked her."

Once more Vanderbank faltered. "And that's how you know?"

"About YOUR chance? That's how I know."

The young man, consuming his cigarette with concentration, took again
several turns. "And your idea IS to give one time?"

Mr. Longdon had for a minute to turn his idea over. "How much time do
you want?"

Vanderbank gave a headshake that was both restrictive and indulgent. "I
must live into it a little. Your offer has been before me only these few
minutes, and it's too soon for me to commit myself to anything whatever.
Except," he added gallantly, "to my gratitude."

Mr. Longdon, at this, on the divan, got up, as Vanderbank had previously
done, under the spring of emotion; only, unlike Vanderbank, he still
stood there, his hands in his pockets and his face, a little paler,
directed straight. There was disappointment in him even before he spoke.
"You've no strong enough impulse--?"

His friend met him with admirable candour. "Wouldn't it seem that if I
had I would by this time have taken the jump?"

"Without waiting, you mean, for anybody's money?" Mr. Longdon
cultivated for a little a doubt. "Of course she has struck one as--till
now--tremendously young."

Vanderbank looked about once more for matches and occupied a time with
relighting. "Till now--yes. But it's not," he pursued, "only because
she's so young that--for each of us, and for dear old Mitchy too--she's
so interesting." Mr. Longdon had restlessly stepped down, and
Vanderbank's eyes followed him till he stopped again. "I make out that
in spite of what you said to begin with you're conscious of a certain
pressure."

"In the matter of time? Oh yes, I do want it DONE. That," Nanda's patron
simply explained, "is why I myself put on the screw." He spoke with the
ring of impatience. "I want her got out."

"'Out'?"

"Out of her mother's house."

Vanderbank laughed though--more immediately--he had coloured. "Why, her
mother's house is just where I see her!"

"Precisely; and if it only weren't we might get on faster."

Vanderbank, for all his kindness, looked still more amused. "But if it
only weren't, as you say, I seem to understand you wouldn't have your
particular vision of urgency."

Mr. Longdon, through adjusted glasses, took him in with a look that
was sad as well as sharp, then jerked the glasses off. "Oh you do
understa