And fresh holes were made: they were the most sunken eyes ever seen before Georgie was tired of the game. Next he must have ears, which were supposed to be concealed by the very heavy head of hair; and when the ears arrived, they were not worth having without ear-rings; but there the sculptor was nonplussed, and struck. "All right," said Georgie, cheerfully; "then I'll carry it home without." "What, run away directly it's done?" The cold-blooded ingratitude of infancy was new to Carlton, as his hurt face was to Georgie, who eyed it with some compassion. "All right," said he; "I'll stay a little bit if you like." "And sit on my knee, Georgie." "All right." But there was no sentiment about Georgie to-day; it was mere magnanimity, and he showed it. "Quite comfy, Georgie?" "No," sighed the boy, screwing about on the one thin thigh; "I think it's only a little comfy." "That better?" And, the other leg being slipped under his small person, Georgie said it was. "Are you sure, Georgie, that you want to take that head home at all?" "Course I are," said Georgie, decidedly. "I must take it, you see; course I must." Carlton was again tormented by the ignoble inclination which he had overcome by impulse rather than by will at the last interview. Was a child of four too young to keep a secret? If only this one could be induced to go and come back, and back, and back, without ever saying a word to anybody! The proposition had shamed him before; and did now; but the new love within him was stronger than his shame. "You wouldn't show it," suggested Carlton, "to your grandfather, would you?" "Course I'll show it to him," said Georgie, for whom the stipulation was too oblique. "But he'll be angry!" "Course he won't," said Georgie, more superior than ever, and with the air of one who does not care to argue any more. "But you know he was before," said Carlton, drawing his bow. "Oh, bovver!" exclaimed Georgie, losing patience. "Well, then, he won't be angry to-day, I know he won't." "How do you know, Georgie?" "'Cos he did tell me I could come." "Not here?" Georgie nodded solemnly. "Yes, he did. I know he did." What could it mean? The child was strangely dependable for his years; indeed, it was impossible to look in those great and candid eyes and to doubt the testimony of the equally candid little tongue. Then what could it mean? Had Musk relented? Was he relenting? Carlton's heart leapt at the thought, and with his heart his eyes; and in the same second he had his answer. Close at hand in the sunlight, where Georgie had stood last, brimming over with delight, there now stood Jasper Musk himself, huge with hate, livid with rage, vindictive, remorseless--but not surprised. Carlton saw this at the first glance, in the triumphant lightning flashing from the fixed eyes, and playing over the heavy, grim, inexorable face. And that was his answer; furthermore it prepared him for all, and more than all, that was to come.