Clarke returned and they sat down
to the real jam tea, the ice was in fragments.

"I believe you were right, mater, and it was all the kid that prevented
Mr. Leith from sticking to his promise," Jimmy announced, as he helped
Dion to "the strawberry," with a liberality which betokened an affection
steadfast even under the stress of blighting circumstances.

"Of course I was right," returned his mother gravely.

Dion was rather glad that she looked away from him as she said it.

Her manner to him was unchanged. Evidently she was a woman not quick to
take offense. He liked that absence of all "touchiness" from her, and
felt that a man could rest comfortably on her good breeding. But this
very good breeding increased within him a sense of discomfort which
amounted almost to guilt. He tried to smother it by being very jolly
with Jimmy, to whom he devoted most of his attention. When tea was over
Mrs. Clarke said to her son:

"Now, Jimmy, you must go away for a little while and let me have a talk
with Mr. Leith."

"Oh, mater, that's not fair. Mr. Leith's my pal. Aren't you, Mr. Leith?
Why, even Jenkins says--"

"I should rather think so. Why--"

"You shall see Mr. Leith again before he goes."

He looked at his mother, suddenly became very grave, and went slowly out
of the room. It was evident to Dion that Mrs. Clarke knew how to make
people obey her when she was in earnest.

As soon as Jimmy had gone Mrs. Clarke rang for the waiter to take away
the tea-table.

"Then we shan't be bothered," she remarked. "I hate people coming in and
out when I'm trying to have a quiet talk."

"So do I," said Dion.

The waiter rolled the table out gently and shut the door.

Mrs. Clarke sat down on a sofa.

"Do light a cigar," she said. "I know you want to smoke, and I'll have a
cigarette."

She drew out of a little case which lay on a table beside her a Turkish
cigarette and lit it, while Dion lighted a cigar.

"So you're really going back to Constantinople?" he began. "Are you
taking Jimmy with you?"

"Yes, for a time. My husband raises no objection. In a year I shall send
Jimmy to Eton. Lady Ermyntrude is furious, of course, and has tried to
stir up my husband. But her influence with him is dead. He's terribly
ashamed at what she made him do."

"The action?"

"Yes. It was she who made him think me guilty against his real inner
conviction. Now, poor man, he realizes that he dragged me through the
dirt without reason.