ent to Thomas, mayn't I?"

"No," said Peter, without interest or emotion.

So they stood in silence for a moment, facing each other, Lucy
full-handed and impotent before Peter whose empty hands hung closed and
unreceiving; Lucy and Peter, who had once been used to go shares and to
give and take like two children, and who could give and take no more; and
in the silence something oddly vibrated, so that Lord Evelyn, the
onlooker, abruptly moved and spoke.

"Come home, Lucy. He's told us he'll have none of us."

Lucy still stood pleading, like a child; then, at Lord Evelyn's touch
on her arm, she suddenly began to cry, again like a child, helpless and
conquered.

At her tears Peter turned away sharply, and walked to the window.

"Please go," he said. "Please go."

They went, Lucy quietly crying, and Lord Evelyn, suddenly become oddly
gentle, comforting her.

At the door he paused for a moment, looked round at Peter, hesitated,
took a step back towards him, began to say something.

"Peter...."

Then Peggy came in, followed by Hilary. Lord Evelyn shut his lips
lightly, bowed, and followed Lucy downstairs. Peggy went after them
to let them out.

Hilary flung himself into a chair.

"Well, Peter? Well?"

Peter turned round from the window, and Hilary started at his face.

"My dear boy, what on earth is the matter?"

Then Peggy came in, her eyes full of dismayed vexation, but laughter
twitching at her lips.

"Oh, my dears! What a mood they're in! Lord Evelyn looked at me to
destroy me--and Lucy crying as if she'd never stop; I tried to make her
take some sal volatile, but he wouldn't let her, but wisked her into her
carriage and shut the door in my face. Mercy, what temper!"

The last words may not have had exclusive reference to Lord Evelyn, as
Peggy was now looking at Peter in some astonishment and alarm. When
Peter looked angry, everyone was so surprised that they wanted to take
his temperature and send him to bed. Peggy would have liked to do that
now, but really didn't dare.

What had come to the child, she wondered?

"What did they talk about, Peter? A funny thing their coming within half
an hour of each other like that, wasn't it. And I never thought to see
Lord Evelyn here, I must say. Now I wonder why was Lucy crying and he so
cross?"

Peter left her to wonder that, and said merely, "Once for all, I won't
have it. You shall _not_ beg for money and bring my name into it.
It's--it's horrid."