to some extent, but he was still undecided. "I live all alone when my sister is not with me, and I, too, have many things I am sure would interest you. Say you'll come now—I shall expect you, shall I not?"

The boy hesitated. "You may not know exactly what I mean," he said slowly. "Maybe you can't understand, for everybody about here seems to love you, and you must have lots of friends. The fact is, I feel out of everything. I get pretty lonely sometimes. Garry, here, never stays five minutes when he comes to see me, so many people are after him all the time. Please say you'll come!"

There was a note in the boy's voice that swept away all the older man's scruples.

"Come, my son! Of course I'll come," burst out Peter. "I'll be there at nine o'clock."

As Morris and the others passed between the table and the wall on their way to the cloak-room, Minott, who had listened to the whole conversation, waited until he thought Peter had gone ahead, and then, with an impatient gesture, said:

"What the devil, Jack, do you want to waste your time over an old fellow like that for?"

"Oh, Garry, don't—"

"Don't! A bald-headed old pill who ought to have—"

Then the two passed out of hearing.