Appleyard. I know what will happen--I know the sort of idea he has
got into his head. He will disown me, and I shall go off to
Africa."

Peter Hope was unable to see how Grindley junior's disappearance
into the wilds of Africa was going to assist the matter under
discussion.

Grindley junior's view was that the wilds of Africa would afford a
fitting background to the passing away of a blighted existence.

Peter Hope had a suspicion that Grindley junior had for the moment
parted company with that sweet reasonableness that otherwise, so
Peter Hope felt sure, was Grindley junior's guiding star.

"I mean it, sir," reasserted Grindley junior. "I am--" Grindley
junior was about to add "well educated"; but divining that
education was a topic not pleasing at the moment to the ears of
Helvetia Appleyard, had tact enough to substitute "not a fool. I
can earn my own living; and I should like to get away."

"It seems to me--" said the sub-editor.

"Now, Tommy--I mean Jane," warned her Peter Hope. He always called
her Jane in company, unless he was excited. "I know what you are
going to say. I won't have it."

"I was only going to say--" urged the sub-editor in tone of one
suffering injustice.