He raised no opposition to the idea. Of late he had felt cabined and confined, and the thought of broader horizons appealed to him. “Uncle Clem would put you up for the Phœnician, wouldn’t he?” Wynne shook his head irritably. “I’m not disposed to ask favours of Uncle Clem,” he replied. “Why not?” “It was evident enough he disapproved of my mode of life when last we met. It will be time to ask him to do things for me when he approves. Besides, there’s no need. A cousin of my mother’s is a member—I’ll ask him.” “Does he approve of your mode of life?” “Probably not; but, since I have no interest in him one way or the other, it doesn’t matter. The man is rich and a fool.” “I didn’t know you had a rich cousin.” “It isn’t a thing to boast about. I rather believe I have a moderately rich father and mother somewhere—still it can’t be helped.” “Do you know,” said Eve, “you have never mentioned them before.” “I don’t know what persuaded me to do so at all.” “Tell me about them.” “Nothing to tell. They wanted me to accept a sound commercial position—whatever that may mean; in declining to do so I forfeited my birthright, and sacrificed my immortal soul to the flames.” “Did you run away?” “I walked away. They were too slow to render running a necessity.” “I think you are rather callous,” said Eve. “Surely to God you don’t expect me to take off my hat, like a music-hall serio, when I speak of Home and Mother.” “No, that would be rather silly—still—” “One must judge the value of things and persons on two counts—their service and their effect. If their service is negligible, and they produce no effect, it is clearly useless to have any further dealings with them.” “I don’t like that,” said Eve. “It’s a cold philosophy. You sponge the wine from the cellars and complain when the vats are empty.” “I don’t complain—I pass on. One must, or die of thirst.” “It is a false thirst.” “That doesn’t matter so long as one feels it acutely.” She generally allowed him the luxury of supplying the phrase to round off an argument. It is a tribute to the gallantry of women that they will allow the vanquished to feel he is the victor, and as true of the best of them as the popular belief to the contrary is false. Wynne joined the Phœnician, and after a while came to spend much of his time there. It made, he said, a change from the never-ending sameness of their penny-threefarthing home.