’Talking of settling down, my brother Tom and his wife are on the point of going to New Zealand.  Necessity of business; may be out there for the rest of their lives.  Do you know that I shall think very seriously of following them some day?  With Bella, you know.  The fact of the matter is, I don’t believe I could ever make a solid home in England.  Why, I can’t quite say; partly, I suppose, because I have nothing to do.  Now there’s a good deal to be said for going out to the colonies.  A man feels that he is helping the spread of civilisation; and that’s something, you know.  I should compare myself with the Greek and Roman colonists—­something inspiriting in that thought—­what?  Why shouldn’t I found a respectable newspaper, for instance?  Yes, I shall think very seriously of this.’

’You wouldn’t care to run over with your relatives, just to have a look?’

‘It occurred to me,’ Malkin replied, thoughtfully.  ’But they sail in ten days, and—­well, I’m afraid I couldn’t get ready in time.  And then I’ve promised to look after some little affairs for Mrs. Jacox —­some trifling money matters.  But later in the year—­who knows?’

Earwaker half repented of his promise to visit the Jacox household, but there was no possibility of excusing himself.  So on Sunday he journeyed with his friend down to Wrotham.  Mrs. Jacox and her children were very comfortably established in a small new house.  When the companions entered they found the mother alone in her sitting-room, and she received them with an effusiveness very distasteful to Earwaker.

‘Now you shouldn’t!’ was her first exclamation to Malkin.  ’Indeed you shouldn’t!  It’s really very naughty of you. 0 Mr. Earwaker!  Who ever took so much pleasure in doing kindnesses?  Do look at this beautiful book that Mr. Malkin has sent as a present to my little Bella. 0 Mr. Earwaker!’

The journalist was at once struck with her tone and manner as she addressed Malkin.  He remarked that phrase, ‘my little Bella’, and it occurred to him that Mrs. Jacox had been growing younger since he made her acquaintance on the towers of Notre Dame.  When the girls presented themselves, they also appeared to him more juvenile; Bella, in particular, was dressed with an exaggeration of childishness decidedly not becoming.  One had but to look into her face to see that she answered perfectly to Malkin’s description; she was a young lady, and no child.  A very pretty young lady, moreover; given to colouring, but with no silly simper; intelligent about the eyes and lips; modest, in a natural and sweet way.  He conversed with her, and in doing so was disagreeably affected by certain glances she occasionally cast towards her mother.  One would have said that she feared censure, though it was hard to see why.

On the return journey Earwaker made known some of his impressions, though not all.

‘I like the girls,’ he said, ’Bella especially.  But I can’t say much good of their mother.’