Osborn pulled himself sharply together. He said to Rokeby afterwards: "I believe it's the biggest shock of a chap's life. Awful good news and all that, of course." But now he was concerned only with Marie, that pretty frail thing so joyously taking upon her shoulders what seemed to him so vague and dreadful a burden, and for the moment he was aghast for her. "Are you?" he stammered. "I think it's lovely," she murmured. "Then I'm glad," said Osborn; "if you're glad, I am, you dear, sweet, best girl. But tell me all the doctor said, angel, and just what we're to do and everything." "We don't do anything till next September." "Is it to be next September?" "Yes," said Marie, trembling a little. CHAPTER VII DISILLUSION Osborn had to tell Desmond Rokeby; he simply couldn't help it. They met at a quick lunch counter, an unusual meeting, for Rokeby lunched almost invariably at his club. As Osborn ate his sandwiches and drank his ale he was looking sideways at Rokeby all the time, and feeling, somehow, how futile he was, how worthless bachelors were to the world; and presently, when the space around them had cleared, and the white-capped server had moved away, he almost whispered: "I say, Desmond, there's great news at my place." Rokeby looked into Osborn's eager face. "I wonder," said he, "if I could give a guess." "I know you couldn't, old chap," said Osborn; "the surprise simply bowled _me_ over." Rokeby had already guessed right, but he had the tact and kindness not to say so; he had known men's pleasure in the telling before. "Are you going to tell me?" he asked. "Am I _not_, old man?" said Osborn, looking at the colour of his ale with a kind of smiling remoteness. "Well ... this is it ... how does one put it?... Well, here it is. Next September there'll be three people instead of two at No. 30 Welham Mansions." "By Jove!" said Rokeby. "You must be awf'ly pleased!" "Simply off my head! So's Marie." He did not bank his two pounds that week, but kept them in his pocket. They need not spend both, but one Marie must have. And when he went home that afternoon, having asked permission to leave early, for a family purpose, and when he put the usual 30s. into his wife's hand, he cried: "You're coming out shopping, Mrs. Kerr. You're coming out to buy yards and yards of whatever it is. And why mayn't we do a little dinner as well? You're to be kept cheerful."