“Thank you, I'm well, and have had a passably agreeable summer, barring the heat, sundry persistent mosquitoes, several grievous disappointments, and a felon on my thumb,” he began, with shameless imperturbability. “I have been to Revere once, to the circus once, to Nantasket three times, and to Keith's and the 'movies' ten times, perhaps--to be accurate. I have also--But perhaps there was some one else you desired to inquire for,” he broke off, turning upon his hostess a bland but unsmiling countenance. “Oh, no, how could there be?” twinkled Billy. “Really, Hugh, I always knew you had a pretty good opinion of yourself, but I didn't credit you with thinking you were _everybody_. Go on. I'm so interested!” Hugh chuckled softly; but there was a plaintive tone in his voice as he answered. “Thanks, no. I've rather lost my interest now. Lack of appreciation always did discourage me. We'll talk of something else, please. You enjoyed your trip?” “Very much. It just couldn't have been nicer!” “You were lucky. The heat here has been something fierce!” “What made you stay?” “Reasons too numerous, and one too heart-breaking, to mention. Besides, you forget,” with dignity. “There is my profession. I have joined the workers of the world now, you know.” “Oh, fudge, Hugh!” laughed Billy. “You know very well you're as likely as not to start for the ends of the earth to-morrow morning!” Hugh drew himself up. “I don't seem to succeed in making people understand that I'm serious,” he began aggrievedly. “I--” With an expressive flourish of his hands he relaxed suddenly, and fell back in his chair. A slow smile came to his lips. “Well, Billy, I'll give up. You've hit it,” he confessed. “I _have_ thought seriously of starting to-morrow morning for _half-way_ to the ends of the earth--Panama.” “Hugh!” “Well, I have. Even this call was to be a good-by--if I went.” “Oh, Hugh! But I really thought--in spite of my teasing--that you had settled down, this time.” “Yes, so did I,” sighed the man, a little soberly. “But I guess it's no use, Billy. Oh, I'm coming back, of course, and link arms again with their worthy Highnesses, John Doe and Richard Roe; but just now I've got a restless fit on me. I want to see the wheels go 'round. Of course, if I had my bread and butter and cigars to earn, 'twould be different. But I haven't, and I know I haven't; and I suspect that's where the trouble lies. If it wasn't for those natal silver spoons of mine that Bertram is always talking about, things might be different. But the spoons are there, and always have been; and I know they're all ready to dish out mountains to climb and lakes to paddle in, any time I've a mind to say the word. So--I just say the word. That's all.” “And you've said it now?” “Yes, I think so; for a while.” “And--those reasons that _have_ kept you here all summer,” ventured Billy, “they aren't in--er--commission any longer?” “No.”