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Moreen flashed at Pemberton as she got up。
〃It isn't HE says it； it's I！〃 the boy returned； apparently easier；
but sinking back against the wall； while his restored friend； who
had sat down beside him； took his hand and bent over him。
〃Darling child； one does what one can； there are so many things to
consider；〃 urged Mrs。 Moreen。 〃It's his PLACE … his only place。
You see YOU think it is now。〃
〃Take me away … take me away；〃 Morgan went on； smiling to Pemberton
with his white face。
〃Where shall I take you； and how … oh HOW； my boy？〃 the young man
stammered； thinking of the rude way in which his friends in London
held that； for his convenience； with no assurance of prompt return；
he had thrown them over； of the just resentment with which they
would already have called in a successor； and of the scant help to
finding fresh employment that resided for him in the grossness of
his having failed to pass his pupil。
〃Oh we'll settle that。 You used to talk about it；〃 said Morgan。
〃If we can only go all the rest's a detail。〃
〃Talk about it as much as you like； but don't think you can attempt
it。 Mr。 Moreen would never consent … it would be so VERY hand…to…
mouth；〃 Pemberton's hostess beautifully explained to him。 Then to
Morgan she made it clearer： 〃It would destroy our peace； it would
break our hearts。 Now that he's back it will be all the same
again。 You'll have your life； your work and your freedom； and
we'll all be happy as we used to be。 You'll bloom and grow
perfectly well； and we won't have any more silly experiments； will
we？ They're too absurd。 It's Mr。 Pemberton's place … every one in
his place。 You in yours； your papa in his； me in mine … n'est…ce
pas； cheri？ We'll all forget how foolish we've been and have
lovely times。〃
She continued to talk and to surge vaguely about the little draped
stuffy salon while Pemberton sat with the boy； whose colour
gradually came back； and she mixed up her reasons； hinting that
there were going to be changes； that the other children might
scatter （who knew？ … Paula had her ideas） and that then it might be
fancied how much the poor old parent…birds would want the little
nestling。 Morgan looked at Pemberton； who wouldn't let him move；
and Pemberton knew exactly how he felt at hearing himself called a
little nestling。 He admitted that he had had one or two bad days；
but he protested afresh against the wrong of his mother's having
made them the ground of an appeal to poor Pemberton。 Poor
Pemberton could laugh now； apart from the comicality of Mrs。
Moreen's mustering so much philosophy for her defence … she seemed
to shake it out of her agitated petticoats； which knocked over the
light gilt chairs … so little did their young companion； MARKED；
unmistakeably marked at the best； strike him as qualified to
repudiate any advantage。
He himself was in for it at any rate。 He should have Morgan on his
hands again indefinitely； though indeed he saw the lad had a
private theory to produce which would be intended to smooth this
down。 He was obliged to him for it in advance； but the suggested
amendment didn't keep his heart rather from sinking； any more than
it prevented him from accepting the prospect on the spot； with some
confidence moreover that he should do so even better if he could
have a little supper。 Mrs。 Moreen threw out more hints about the
changes that were to be looked for； but she was such a mixture of
smiles and shudders … she confessed she was very nervous … that he
couldn't tell if she were in high feather or only in hysterics。 If
the family was really at last going to pieces why shouldn't she
recognise the necessity of pitching Morgan into some sort of
lifeboat？ This presumption was fostered by the fact that they were
established in luxurious quarters in the capital of pleasure； that
was exactly where they naturally WOULD be established in view of
going to pieces。 Moreover didn't she mention that Mr。 Moreen and
the others were enjoying themselves at the opera with Mr。 Granger；
and wasn't THAT also precisely where one would look for them on the
eve of a smash？ Pemberton gathered that Mr。 Granger was a rich
vacant American … a big bill with a flourishy heading and no items；
so that one of Paula's 〃ideas〃 was probably that this time she
hadn't missed fire … by which straight shot indeed she would have
shattered the general cohesion。 And if the cohesion was to crumble
what would become of poor Pemberton？ He felt quite enough bound up
with them to figure to his alarm as a dislodged block in the
edifice。
It was Morgan who eventually asked if no supper had been ordered
for him； sitting with him below； later； at the dim delayed meal； in
the presence of a great deal of corded green plush； a plate of
ornamental biscuit and an aloofness marked on the part of the
waiter。 Mrs。 Moreen had explained that they had been obliged to
secure a room for the visitor out of the house； and Morgan's
consolation … he offered it while Pemberton reflected on the
nastiness of lukewarm sauces … proved to be； largely； that his
circumstance would facilitate their escape。 He talked of their
escape … recurring to it often afterwards … as if they were making
up a 〃boy's book〃 together。 But he likewise expressed his sense
that there was something in the air； that the Moreens couldn't keep
it up much longer。 In point of fact； as Pemberton was to see； they
kept it up for five or six months。 All the while； however；
Morgan's contention was designed to cheer him。 Mr。 Moreen and
Ulick； whom he had met the day after his return； accepted that
return like perfect men of the world。 If Paula and Amy treated it
even with less formality an allowance was to be made for them；
inasmuch as Mr。 Granger hadn't come to the opera after all。 He had
only placed his box at their service； with a bouquet for each of
the party； there was even one apiece； embittering the thought of
his profusion； for Mr。 Moreen and Ulick。 〃They're all like that；〃
was Morgan's comment； 〃at the very last； just when we think we've
landed them they're back in the deep sea！〃
Morgan's comments in these days were more and more free； they even
included a large recognition of the extraordinary tenderness with
which he had been treated while Pemberton was away。 Oh yes； they
couldn't do enough to be nice to him； to show him they had him on
their mind and make up for his loss。 That was just what made the
whole thing so sad and caused him to rejoice after all in
Pemberton's return … he had to keep thinking of their affection
less； had less sense of obligation。 Pemberton laughed out at this
last reason； and Morgan blushed and said： 〃Well； dash it； you know
what I mean。〃 Pemberton knew perfectly what he meant； but there
were a good many things that … dash it too！ … it didn't make any
clearer。 This episode of his second sojourn in Paris stretched
itself out wearily； with their resumed readin