d have liked to
say had he been able to work out his thought to the end was: "I see, I
see. Lash them up then, lead them on, keep them going: some of it can't
help, some time, coming _our_ way." Yet he was troubled by the suspicion
of subtleties on his companion's part that spoiled the straight view. He
couldn't understand people's hating what they liked or liking what they
hated; above all it hurt him somewhere--for he had his private
delicacies--to see anything _but_ money made out of his betters. To be
too enquiring, or in any other way too free, at the expense of the gentry
was vaguely wrong; the only thing that was distinctly right was to be
prosperous at any price. Wasn't it just because they were up there aloft
that they were lucrative? He concluded at any rate by saying to his
young friend: "If it's improper for you to remain at Cocker's, then that
falls in exactly with the other reasons I've put before you for your
removal."

"Improper?"--her smile became a prolonged boldness. "My dear boy,
there's no one like you!"

"I dare say," he laughed; "but that doesn't help the question."

"Well," she returned, "I can't give up my friends. I'm making even more
than Mrs. Jordan."

Mr. Mudge considered. "How much is _she_ making?"

"Oh you dear donkey!"--and, regardless of all the Regent's Park, she
patted his cheek. This was the sort of moment at which she was
absolutely tempted to tell him that she liked to be near Park Chambers.
There was a fascination in the idea of seeing if, on a mention of Captain
Everard, he wouldn't do what she thought he might; wouldn't weigh against
the obvious objection the still more obvious advantage. The advantage of
course could only strike him at the best as rather fantastic; but it was
always to the good to keep hold when you _had_ hold, and such an attitude
would also after all involve a high tribute to her fidelity. Of one
thing she absolutely never doubted: Mr. Mudge believed in her with a
belief--! She believed in herself too, for that matter: if there was a
thing in the world no one could charge her with it was being the kind of
low barmaid person who rinsed tumblers and bandied slang. But she
forbore as yet to speak; she had not spoken even to Mrs. Jordan; and the
hush that on her lips surrounded the Captain's name maintained itself as
a kind of symbol of the success that, up to this time, had attended
something or other--she couldn't have said what--that she hum