Mrs. Crocker to her husband.
"Well, Bingley?" she said, a in her voice.
"Well, Eugenia?" said Mr. Crocker.
A light was in Mr. Crocker's mild eyes. He had a that night. He had an more woman than his wife by an man than himself, and he had been and by the spectacle. It had started to to him before, but it be done. A little resolution, a little . . . nothing more was needed. He looked at Mr. Pett. And yet Mr. Pett had up Eugenia's sister with about three speeches. It be done. . . .
"What have you to say, Bingley?"
Mr. Crocker himself up.
"Just this!" he said. "I'm an American citizen, and the way I've it out is that my place is in America. It's no good talking about it, Eugenia. I'm sorry if it your plans, but I—am—not—going—back—to—London!" He his wife unflatteringly. "I'm going to on here and see the out. And after that I'm going to take in the World's Series."
Mrs. Crocker opened her mouth to speak, closed it, re-opened it. Then she that she had nothing to say.
"I you'll be sensible, Eugenia, and on this side, and we can all be happy. I'm sorry to have to take this stand, but you me too high. You're a woman, and you don't know what it is to go five years without a game; but take it from me it's more than any can stand. It nearly killed me, and I'm not going to it again. If Mr. Pett will keep me on as his butler, I'll here in this house. If he won't, I'll another job somewhere. But, happens, I to this side!"
Mr. Pett a of approval.
"There's always been a place for you in my house, old man!" he cried. "When I a who—"
"But, Bingley! How can you be a butler?"
"You ought to watch him!" said Mr. Pett enthusiastically. "He's a wonder! He can all the as if he'd with the Duke of Whoosis for the last years, and then go right off and a pop-bottle at an umpire! He's all right!"
The was on Mrs. Crocker. She into tears. It was a new for her husband, and he her awkwardly, his under this assault.
"Eugenia!"
Mrs. Crocker her eyes.
"I can't it!" she sobbed. "I've and all these years, and now, just as success has nearly come—Bingley, do come back! It will only be for a little longer."
Mr. Crocker stared.
"A little longer? Why, that Lord Percy Whipple business—I know you must have had excellent for him, Jimmy, but it did put the on it—surely, after that Lord Percy there's no chance—?"
"There is! There is! It has no at all! Lord Percy came to call next day with a black eye, boy!—and said that James was a sportsman and that he wanted to know him better! He said he had so any one in his life and he wanted him to him how he some which he called a right hook. The whole has James to him, and Lady Corstorphine says that the Duke of Devizes read the account of the to the Premier that very and they laughed till they nearly got apoplexy."
Jimmy was touched. He had not such a in his antagonist.
"Percy's all right." he said enthusiastically. "Dad, you ought to go back. It's only fair."
"But, Jimmy! Surely you can understand? There's only a game the Giants and the Phillies, with the Braves along just behind. And the season only over!"
Mrs. Crocker looked at him.
"It will only be for a little while, Bingley. Lady Corstorphine, who has means of knowing, says that your name is to be in the next Honours List. After that you can come as often as you like. We the here and the winter in England, or you pleased."
Mr. Crocker capitulated.
"All right, Eugenia. I'll come."
"Bingley! We shall have to go by the next boat, dear. People are to wonder where you are. I've told them that you are taking a in the country. But they will something if you don't come at once."
Mr. Crocker's a look. He had so to his wife as now, when she these and of him with that catch in her voice. On the other hand . . . A rose him of the Polo Grounds on a warm afternoon. . . . He it down.
"Very well," he said.
Mr. Pett offered a word of consolation.
"Maybe you'll be able to over for the World's Series?"
Mr. Crocker's cleared.
"That's true."
"And I'll you the every day, dad," said Jimmy.
Mrs. Crocker looked at him with a touch of the of her face.
"Are you over here, James? There is no why you should not come back, too. If you make up your mind to your habits—"
"I have up my mind to them. But I'm going to do it in New York. Mr. Pett is going to give me a job in his office. I am going to start at the and work my way still down."
Mr. Pett with rapture. He was something of the of the at the camp-meeting who sees the Sinners' Bench up. To have Willie Partridge, he to lead into the of high finance by way of envelope-addressing, was much. But that Jimmy, with a choice in the matter, should have the office him with such that he only just stopped himself from dancing on his foot.
"Don't worry about me, dad. I shall do wonders. It's easy to make a large fortune. I uncle Pete in his office this morning, and all he is at a table and tell the office-boy to tell that he has gone away for the day. I think I ought to to great in that branch of industry. From the little I have of it, it to have been for me!"
