se little beans last," he replied.
"You see, I have only two left. When they are gone, I shall be back
again."

"If you think," Ellen exclaimed, "that you're going to march into
Clematis Villa just when you feel like it, and behave as though nothing
has happened, all I can say, my man, is that you're going to be
disappointed! You've kept away so long you can keep away for good. We
can do without you, me and Alf."

Burton still held the box in his hand.

"I suppose," he ventured slowly, "I couldn't persuade you to take one?"

Ellen rose to her feet. She threw the scarf around her neck, buttoned
her gloves, and shook out her skirt. She picked up the satchel which
she had been carrying and prepared to depart.

"If you say anything more to me about your beastly beans," she said,
"I'll lose my temper, and that's straight. Can you tell me how to bring
little Alf to himself again? That's all I want to know."

"Time will do that, unfortunately," Burton assured her. "Where is he
this afternoon?

"It's his half-holiday," Ellen replied, in a tone of disgust, "and where
do you think he's gone? Gone to a museum to look at some statues! The
schoolmaster called for him. They've gone off together. All I can say
is that if he don't turn natural again before long, you can have him.
He don't belong to me no longer."

"I am willing to take the responsibility," Burton replied, "if it is
necessary. Will you let me give you some tea?"

"I want nothing from you except my weekly money that the law provides
for," Ellen answered fiercely. "You can keep your tea. And mind what I
say, too. It's no use coming down to Clematis Villa and talking about
the effect of the bean having worn off and being yourself again. You
seem pretty comfortable here and you can stay here until I'm ready for
you. Oh, bother holding the door open!" she added, angrily. "I hate
such tricks! Get out of the way and let me pass. I can let myself out.
More fool me for coming! I might have known you'd have nothing sensible
to say."

"I'm afraid," Burton admitted, "that we do rather look at this matter
from different points of view, but, as I told you before, you will find
very soon that Alfred will be just the same as he used to be."

"If he don't alter," Ellen declared, looking back from the door, "you'll
find him here one day by Carter Patterson's, with a label around his
neck. I'm not one for keeping children about the place that know more
than their mothers. I