I was frightened; I drew away my hand and asked to be trusted without any such terrible vow.  My reluctance startled my father into a suspicion that the vulgar theory of independence had already been whispering to me.  He sat up in his bed and looked at me with eyes which seemed to foresee a lifetime of odious ingratitude.  I felt the reproach; I feel it now.  I promised!  And even now I don’t regret my promise nor complain of my father’s tenacity.  I feel, somehow, as if the seeds of ultimate repose had been sown in those unsuspecting years—­as if after many days I might gather the mellow fruit.  But after many days!  I will keep my promise, I will obey; but I want to live first!”

“My dear fellow, you are living now.  All this passionate consciousness of your situation is a very ardent life.  I wish I could say as much for my own.”

“I want to forget my situation.  I want to spend three months without thinking of the past or the future, grasping whatever the present offers me.  Yesterday I thought I was in a fair way to sail with the tide.  But this morning comes this memento!” And he held up his letter again.

“What is it?”

“A letter from Smyrna.”

“I see you have not yet broken the seal.”

“No; nor do I mean to, for the present.  It contains bad news.”

“What do you call bad news?”

“News that I am expected in Smyrna in three weeks.  News that Mr. Vernor disapproves of my roving about the world.  News that his daughter is standing expectant at the altar.”

“Is not this pure conjecture?”

“Conjecture, possibly, but safe conjecture.  As soon as I looked at the letter something smote me at the heart.  Look at the device on the seal, and I am sure you will find it’s Tarry not!” And he flung the letter on the grass.

“Upon my word, you had better open it,” I said.

“If I were to open it and read my summons, do you know what I should do?  I should march home and ask the Oberkellner how one gets to Smyrna, pack my trunk, take my ticket, and not stop till I arrived.  I know I should; it would be the fascination of habit.  The only way, therefore, to wander to my rope’s end is to leave the letter unread.”

“In your place,” I said, “curiosity would make me open it.”

He shook his head.  “I have no curiosity!  For a long time now the idea of my marriage has ceased to be a novelty, and I have contemplated it mentally in every possible light.  I fear nothing from that side, but I do fear something from conscience.  I want my hands tied.  Will you do me a favour?  Pick up the letter, put it into your pocket, and keep it till I ask you for it.  When I do, you may know that I am at my rope’s end.”

I took the letter, smiling.  “And how long is your rope to be?  The Homburg season doesn’t last for ever.”

“Does it last a month?  Let that be my season!  A month hence you will give it back to me.”