I have heard of another reading he gave.  This was after the publication of the book.  He had gone into Corp’s house one Sunday, and Gavinia was there reading the work to her lord and master, while little Corp disported on the floor.  She read as if all the words meant the same thing, and it was more than Tommy could endure.  He read for her, and his eyes grew moist as he read, for it was the most exquisite of his chapters about the lost child.  You would have said that no one loved children quite so much as T. Sandys.  But little Corp would not keep quiet, and suddenly Tommy jumped up and boxed his ears.  He then proceeded with the reading, while Gavinia glowered and Corp senior scratched his head.

On the way home he saw what had happened, and laughed at the humour of it, then grew depressed, then laughed recklessly.  “Is it Sentimental Tommy still?” he said to himself, with a groan.  Seldom a week passed without his being reminded in some such sudden way that it was Sentimental Tommy still.  “But she shall never know!” he vowed, and he continued to be half a hero.

His name was once more in many mouths.  “Come back and be made of more than ever!” cried that society which he had once enlivened.  “Come and hear the pretty things we are saying about you.  Come and make the prettier replies that are already on the tip of your tongue; for oh, Tommy, you know they are!  Bring her with you if you must; but don’t you think that the nice, quiet country with the thingumbobs all in bloom would suit her best?  It is essential that you should run up to see your publisher, is it not?  The men have dinners for you if you want them, but we know you don’t.  Your yearning eyes are on the ladies, Tommy; we are making up theatre-parties of the old entrancing kind; you should see our new gowns; please come back and help us to put on our cloaks, Tommy; there is a dance on Monday—­come and sit it out with us.  Do you remember the garden-party where you said—­Well, the laurel walk is still there; the beauties of two years ago are still here, and there are new beauties, and their noses are slightly tilted, but no man can move them; ha, do you pull yourself together at that?  We were always the reward for your labours, Tommy; your books are move one in the game of making love to us; don’t be afraid that we shall forget it is a game; we know it is, and that is why we suit you.  Come and play in London as you used to play in the Den.  It is all you need of women; come and have your fill, and we shall send you back refreshed.  We are not asking you to be disloyal to her, only to leave her happy and contented and take a holiday.”

[Illustration:  He heard their seductive voices, they danced around him in numbers.]

He heard their seductive voices.  They danced around him in numbers, for they knew that the more there were of them the better he would be pleased; they whispered in his ear and then ran away looking over their shoulders.  But he would not budge.