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certainly be better at the end of the month。 Now that I know English
well； I thought perhaps I could procure a situation for teaching
languages。〃
〃I see；〃 said Shelton。
As a fact； however； he was far from seeing； he literally did not know
what to do。 It seemed so brutal to give Ferrand money and ask him to
clear out； besides； he chanced to have none in his pocket。
〃It needs philosophy to support what I 've gone through this week；〃
said Ferrand； shrugging his shoulders。 〃On Wednesday last； when I
received your letter； I had just eighteen…pence； and at once I made a
resolution to come and see you； on that sum I 've done the journey。
My strength is nearly at an end。〃
Shelton stroked his chin。
〃Well；〃 he had just begun； 〃we must think it over；〃 when by Ferrand's
face he saw that some one had come in。 He turned； and saw Antonia in
the doorway。 〃Excuse me；〃 he stammered； and； going to Antonia； drew
her from the room。
With a smile she said at once： 〃It's the young foreigner； I'm
certain。 Oh； what fun！〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Shelton slowly； 〃he's come to see me about getting
some sort of tutorship or other。 Do you think your mother would mind
if I took him up to have a wash？ He's had a longish walk。 And might
he have some breakfast？ He must be hungry。〃
〃Of course！ I'll tell Dobson。 Shall I speak to mother？ He looks
nice； Dick。〃
He gave her a grateful； furtive look； and went back to his guest； an
impulse had made him hide from her the true condition of affairs。
Ferrand was standing where he had been left his face still clothed in
mordant impassivity。
〃Come up to my room！〃 said Shelton； and while his guest was washing；
brushing； and otherwise embellishing his person； he stood reflecting
that Ferrand was by no means unpresentable； and he felt quite
grateful to him。
He took an opportunity； when the young man's back was turned； of
examining his counterfoils。 There was no record； naturally； of a
cheque drawn in Ferrand's favour。 Shelton felt more mean than ever。
A message came from Mrs。 Dennant； so he took the traveller to the
dining…room and left him there； while he himself went to the lady of
the house。 He met Antonia coming down。
〃How many days did you say he went without food that timeyou know？〃
she asked in passing。
〃Four。〃
〃He does n't look a bit common； Dick。〃
Shelton gazed at her dubiously。
〃They're surely not going to make a show of him！〃 he thought。
Mrs。 Dennant was writing； in a dark…blue dress starred over with
white spots； whose fine lawn collar was threaded with black velvet。
〃Have you seen the new hybrid Algy's brought me back from Kidstone？
Is n't it charmin'？〃 and she bent her face towards this perfect rose。
〃They say unique； I'm awfully interested to find out if that's true。
I've told Algy I really must have some。〃
Shelton thought of the unique hybrid breakfasting downstairs； he
wished that Mrs。 Dennant would show in him the interest she had
manifested in the rose。 But this was absurd of him； he knew； for the
potent law of hobbies controlled the upper classes； forcing them to
take more interest in birds； and roses； missionaries； or limited and
highly…bound editions of old books （things； in a word； in treating
which you knew exactly where you were） than in the manifestations of
mere life that came before their eyes。
〃Oh； Dick； about that young Frenchman。 Antonia says he wants a
tutorship； now； can you really recommend him？ There's Mrs。 Robinson
at the Gateways wants someone to teach her boys languages； and； if he
were quite satisfactory； it's really time Toddles had a few lessons
in French； he goes to Eton next half。〃
Shelton stared at the rose； he had suddenly realised why it was that
people take more interest in roses than in human beingsone could do
it with a quiet heart。
〃He's not a Frenchman； you know；〃 he said to gain a little time。
〃He's not a German； I hope；〃 Mrs。 Dennant answered； passing her
forgers round a petal； to impress its fashion on her brain； 〃I don't
like Germans。 Is n't he the one you wrote aboutcome down in the
world？ Such a pity with so young a fellow！ His father was a
merchant； I think you told us。 Antonia says he 's quite refined to
look at。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 said Shelton； feeling on safe ground； 〃he's refined enough
to look at。〃
Mrs。 Dennant took the rose and put it to her nose。
〃Delicious perfume！ That was a very touchin' story about his goin'
without food in Paris。 Old Mrs。 Hopkins has a room to let； I should
like to do her a good turn。 I'm afraid there's a hole in the
ceilin'； though。 Or there's the room here in the left wing on the
ground…floor where John the footman used to sleep。 It's quite nice；
perhaps he could have that。〃
〃You 're awfully kind；〃 said Shelton； 〃 but…〃
〃I should like to do something to restore his self…respect；〃； went on
Mrs。 Dennant； 〃if； as you say； he 's clever and all that。 Seein' a
little refined life again might make a world of difference to him。
It's so sad when a young man loses self…respect。〃
Shelton was much struck by the practical way in which she looked at
things。 Restore his self…respect！ It seemed quite a splendid
notion！ He smiled； and said；
〃You're too kind。 I think…〃
〃I don't believe in doin' things by halves；〃 said Mrs。 Dennant； 〃he
does n't drink； I suppose？〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said Shelton。 〃He's rather a tobacco maniac； of course。〃
〃Well； that's a mercy！ You would n't believe the trouble I 've had
with drink； especially over cooks and coachmen。 And now Bunyan's
taken to it。〃
〃Oh； you'd have no trouble with Ferrand；〃 returned Shelton； 〃 you
couldn't tell him from a gentleman as far as manners go。〃
Mrs。 Dennant smiled one of her rather sweet and kindly smiles。
〃My dear Dick；〃 she said； 〃there's not much comfort in that。 Look at
poor Bobby Surcingle； look at Oliver Semples and Victor Medallion；
you could n't have better families。 But if you 're sure he does n't
drink！ Algy 'll laugh； of course； that does n't matterhe laughs at
everything。〃
Shelton felt guilty； being quite unprepared for so rapid an adoption
of his client。
〃I really believe there's a lot of good in him；〃 he stammered； 〃but；
of course； I know very little； and from what he tells me he's had a
very curious life。 I shouldn't like…〃
〃Where was he educated？〃 inquired Mrs。 Dennant。 〃They have no public
schools in France； so I 've been told； but； of course； he can't help
that； poor young fellow！ Oh； and； Dick； there 's one thinghas he
relations？ One has always to be so careful about that。 It 's one
thing to help a young fellow； but quite another to help his family
too。 One sees so many cases of that where men marry girls without
money； don't you know。〃
〃He has told me；〃 answered Shelton； 〃his only relations are some
cousins； and they are rich。〃
Mrs。 Dennan