tween Elorn and me. And I don't care a hang what
anybody----"

His mother framed his slightly flushed face between her gloved hands
and inspected him humorously.

"Very well, dear," she said; "but you need not be so emphatically
excited about it----"

"I'm not excited--but it irritates me to be expected to do anything
because it's expected of me--" He shrugged his shoulders:

"After all," he added, "if I ever should fall in love with anybody
it's my own business. And whatever I choose to do about it will be my
own affair. And I shall keep my own counsel in any event."

His mother stepped forward, letting both her hands fall into his.

"Wouldn't you tell me about it, Jim?"

"I'd tell you before I'd tell anybody else--if it ever became
serious."

"If _what_ became serious?"

"Well--anything of that sort," he replied. But a bright colour stained
his features and made him wince under her intent scrutiny.

She was worried, now, though her pretty, humorous smile still
challenged him with its raillery.

But it was becoming very evident to her that if this boy of hers were
growing sentimental over any woman the woman was not Elorn Sharrow.

So far she had held her son's confidence. She must do nothing to
disturb it. Yet, as she looked at him with the amused smile still
edging her lips, she began for the first time in her life to be
afraid.

They kissed each other in silence.

* * * * *

In the limousine, seated beside her husband, she said presently: "I
wish Jim would marry Elorn Sharrow."

"He's likely to some day, isn't he?"

"I don't think so."

"Well, there's no hurry," remarked her husband. "He ought not to marry
anybody until he's thirty, and he's only twenty-four. I'm glad enough
to have him remain at home with us."

"But that's what worries me; he _doesn't_!"

"Doesn't what?"

"Doesn't remain at home."

Her husband laughed: "Well, I meant it merely in a figurative sense.
Of course Jim goes out----"

"Where?"

"Why, everywhere, I suppose," said her husband, a little surprised at
her tone.

She said calmly: "I hear things--pick up bits of gossip--as all women
do.... And at a tea the other day a man asked me why Jim never goes to
his clubs any more. So you see he doesn't go to any of his clubs when
he goes 'out' in the evenings.... And he's been to no dances--judging
from what is said to me.... And he doesn't go to see Elorn Sharrow any
more. She