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beaming with pleasure. Maurice leant back, crossing his legs. A little smile flickered across his mouth, but his eyes were solemn as he answered:
    “I had first to see my wife installed in her new home,” he said. For a moment Tom stared at him.
    “Wife? Tare an’ ouns, ye don’t waste your time! Where and when did you marry the lady?” “Three weeks ago, at Paris. Now I have come home to fulfil the last part of the Jettan adage.”
    “God ha’ mercy!” ejaculated Thomas. “Not a staid old age, lad! Not you?” “Something like it,” nodded Maurice. “Wait till you have seen my wife!” “Ay, I’m waiting,” said Tom. “What’s to do now, then? The country squire, and half a dozen children?”
    The grey eyes twinkled.
    “Tom, I’ll thank you not to be so coarse.”
    “Coarse? Coarse? Gad, Maurice, what’s come over you?”
    “I am a married man,” replied Maurice. “As such I have—er—learnt to guard my tongue. My wife—”
    “Maurry, couldn’t ye call the lady by her name?” begged Torn. “Faith, I can’t bear those two words so often, proud though ye may be of them.”
    Maurice flushed slightly and smiled.
    “Maria, then. She is a very—sweet, delicate lady.”
    “Lord! I’d made up my mind you’d wed a bold, strapping wench with a saucy smile, Maurry!” “I? Good God, no! My w—Maria is gentle, and meek, and—”
    “Ay, ay, Maurry, I know!” hastily interrupted Thomas. “I must see her for myself, so don’t spoil the surprise for me, there’s a good fellow! Now have you breakfasted? No? Then come upstairs with me. Where’s that rascal Moggat? Moggat! Moggat! Ah, there you are! Go and prepare breakfast at once, man! And bring some more chocolate to my room.” He wrapped the voluminous robe about him once more, and, seizing his brother by the arm, led him forth to the staircase.
    Thus it was that Maurice Jettan brought home his bride. She was a gentle lady, with a sweet disposition; she adored her handsome husband, and duly presented him with a son, Philip. When the babe was shown to him, Tom discovered that he was a true Jettan, with all their characteristics. His father confessed that he saw no resemblance either to himself or to anyone, but he was nevertheless gratified by his brother’s remarks. Tom chuckled mightily
    and prophesied that young Philip would prove himself a Jettan in more ways than one. He hinted at a youth which should surpass his father’s in brilliancy, and Maurice smiled, looking proudly down at the red, crumpled face.
    “And,” concluded Tom, “he’ll have a papa who can advise him in all matters of fashion better than any man I know. Why, Maurice, you will show him the fashionable world! You must take care you do not stagnate here. You must not fall out of Society.”
    Maurice was still smiling down at his offspring.
    “No. I must not fall out, Tom. The youngster will need me later on.”
    For five years he continued to take his place in London Society, but he found that the desire for excitement and gaiety was growing less and less within him. The death of Maria gave this desire the coup de grace. Maurice took his small son down to the Pride as soon as he had recovered from the first shock of bereavement, and after that for some years he rarely visited London, except sometimes to see his brother or his tailor. Then he seemed to grow restless again, and started to spend more time with Tom. Bit by bit he re-entered the world he had quitted, yet never did he give himself up to it as once he had done. The Pride seemed to call him, and little Philip held his heart with both hands. Thereafter he spent his time between London and the Pride. When he felt restless, he packed his bags and flitted either to London or to Paris; when the restlessness had passed, back he came to the Pride, there to spend two or three peaceful months.
    When Philip was eighteen, he took him to London. Philip was very thoroughly bored. Sir Maurice concluded that he was too