Part 9 (2/2)

For he did not mean to take up the option The ecstasy was cooled now and he saw clearly that London and theatrical enterprises therein would not be suited to his genius In the Five Towns he was on his own ground; he was a figure; he was sure of himself In London he would be a provincial, with the diffidence and the uncertainty of a provincial

Nevertheless, London seereeably of London as one dreaate in the wall of his property he saw that the drawing-room was illuminated and all the other front rooms in darkness Either his wife or his -room He inserted a cautious latch-key into the door and entered the silent horavely reproached him All hisof his stick now!

The drawing-roo hiainst it

Nellie, with lowered head, was seated at a table, nation A pile of children's garments lay by her side, but the article in her busy hands appeared to be an under-shi+rt of his own None but she ever reinforced the buttons on his linen Such was her wifely rule, and he considered that there was no sense in it She orking by the light of a single la out of action Her economy in the use of electricity was incurable, and he considered that there was no sense in that either

She glanced up, with a guarded expression that

He said:

”Aren't you trying your eyes?”

And she replied:

”Oh, no!”

Then, plunging, he came to the point:

”Well, doctor been?”

She nodded

”What does he say?”

”It's quite all right He did nothing but cover up the place with a bit of cyanide gauze”

Instantly, in his own esteeained perfection as a father Of course the bite was nothing! Had he not said so frohout that the bite was nothing?

”Then why did you sit up?” he asked, and there was a faint righteous challenge in his tone

”I was anxious about you I was afraid--”

”Didn't Stirling tell you I had soet--”

”I told him to, anyhow Important business”

”It must have been,” said Nellie, in an inscrutable voice