to Wyndham, a
flood of letters poured through the slit in his door. He had done that
which makes every man a hero for the moment, and dim figures with whom
he had been out of touch for endless years started up again on the
horizon, palpitatingly actual, athrob with goodwill. In the Bohemian
world, too, confirmation of the former rumour was not slow to be noised
abroad, and Sadler hastened to Hampstead and burst in upon him, the
massive head enthusiastically aglow; declaring that he had never for a
moment taken Wyndham's denial seriously, and roaring out his
congratulations and envy with an exuberance of virile expletive.

At Aunt Eleanor's the Christmas festivities were struck in a gayer key
in his honour. Odes of welcome and triumph were in the air. And he was
glad enough to be among his own world again; living in the way that
meant civilisation to him, and breathing homage and consideration--
lionised by his equals! It was as though the fatted calf had been killed
for him, after his prodigal riot of penury. He expanded in this
atmosphere of adulation, amid all these manifestations in honour of the
brilliant artist and the Prince Charming who loved and was loved
idyllically. His engagement seemed to him now most admirable--the
world's sanction had invested it with warm and pleasant lights.
Certainly nobody deprecated or criticised the projected alliance; though
it was known to be with middle-class people who were not in Society, but
merely quiet folk of wealth and respectability. Mary's enthusiasm had
gone a long way in anticipating any possible caste objections, and the
word of approval went round from one to another in the usual parrot-like
way in which public opinion has formed itself since creation. There
seemed in fact to be a very conspiracy of approbation. Wyndham had done
wisely; and voices dropped impressively to dwell on the Robinson
millions--with the obvious implication that that is what wealthy
middle-class people are for--to have the most promising of their kind
promoted into the upper classes.

But the Robinson fortune, though not inconsiderable, was not the
romantic one of rumour. Mr. Robinson had already performed his duty of
writing to Wyndham on the financial aspect of the alliance, and in so
charming a way that Wyndham had at once paid him the tribute of "jolly
decent." Since they had not had the opportunity of disposing of the
subject _viva voce_, had said the old man, he conceived it perhaps to