‘Daniel called last night,’ remarked Mrs. Mutimer.  ’He says he wants to see you.  I think it’s something particular; he seemed disappointed you weren’t at the meeting on Sunday.’

’Did he?  I’ll see if I can get round to-night.  If you like to have something cooked for me about eight o’clock, mother,’ he added, consulting his watch, ‘I shall be ready for it then.’

He turned to his brother again.

’Is there a class to-night?  No?  Very well, when they’ve cleared away, get your books out and show me what you’ve been doing.  What are you going to do with yourself, Alice?’

The two addressed, as well as their mother, appeared to have some special cause for embarrassment.  Instead of immediately replying, Alice played with crumbs and stole glances on either side.

’Me and ‘Arry are going out,’ she said at length, with a rather timid smile and a poise of the head in pretty wilfulness.

’Not ‘Arry,’ Richard observed significantly.

‘Why not?’ came from the younger Mutimer, with access of boldness.

’If you’re not well enough to go to work you certainly don’t go out at night for your pleasure.’

‘But it’s a particular occasion,’ explained Mice, leaning back with crossed arms, evidently prepared to do battle.  ’A friend of ’Arry’s is going to call and take us to the theatre.’

‘Oh, indeed!  And what friend is that?’

Mrs. Mutimer, who had been talked over to compliance with a project she felt Richard would not approve—­she had no longer the old authority, and spent her days in trying to piece on the present life to the former—­found refuge in a habit more suitable to the kitchen than the dining-room; she had collected all the teaspoons within reach and was pouring hot-water upon them in the slop-basin, the familiar preliminary to washing up.

‘A gen’leman as lives near here,’ responded ’Arry.  ’He writes for the newspapers.  His name’s Keene.’

‘Oh?  And how came you to know him?’

‘Met him,’ was the airy reply.

‘And you’ve brought him here?’

‘Well, he’s been here once.’

‘He said as he wanted to know you, Dick,’ put in Mrs. Mutimer.  ’He was really a civil-spoken man, and he gave ’Arry a lot of help with his books.’

‘When was he here?’

‘Last Friday.’

‘And to-night he wants to take you to the theatre?’

The question was addressed to Alice.

‘It won’t cost him anything,’ she replied.  ’He says he can always get free passes.’

’No doubt.  Is he coming here to fetch you?  I shall be glad to see him.’

Richard’s tone was ambiguous.  He put down his cup, and said to Alice—­