"Just this!" he said. "I'm an American citizen, and the way I've figured it out is that my place is in America. It's no good talking about it, Eugenia. I'm sorry if it upsets your plans, but I--am--not--going--back--to--London!" He eyed his speechless wife unflatteringly. "I'm going to stick on here and see the pennant race out. And after that I'm going to take in the World's Series." Mrs. Crocker opened her mouth to speak, closed it, re-opened it. Then she found that she had nothing to say. "I hope you'll be sensible, Eugenia, and stay on this side, and we can all be happy. I'm sorry to have to take this stand, but you tried me too high. You're a woman, and you don't know what it is to go five years without seeing a ball game; but take it from me it's more than any real fan can stand. It nearly killed me, and I'm not going to risk it again. If Mr. Pett will keep me on as his butler, I'll stay here in this house. If he won't, I'll get another job somewhere. But, whatever happens, I stick to this side!" Mr. Pett uttered a whoop of approval. "There's always been a place for you in my house, old man!" he cried. "When I get a butler who--" "But, Bingley! How can you be a butler?" "You ought to watch him!" said Mr. Pett enthusiastically. "He's a wonder! He can pull all the starchy stuff as if he'd lived with the Duke of Whoosis for the last forty years, and then go right off and fling a pop-bottle at an umpire! He's all right!" The eulogy was wasted on Mrs. Crocker. She burst into tears. It was a new experience for her husband, and he watched her awkwardly, his resolute demeanour crumbling under this unexpected assault. "Eugenia!" Mrs. Crocker wiped her eyes. "I can't stand it!" she sobbed. "I've worked and worked all these years, and now, just as success has nearly come--Bingley, _do_ come back! It will only be for a little longer." Mr. Crocker stared. "A little longer? Why, that Lord Percy Whipple business--I know you must have had excellent reasons for soaking him, Jimmy, but it did put the lid on it--surely, after that Lord Percy affair there's no chance--?" "There is! There is! It has made no difference at all! Lord Percy came to call next day with a black eye, poor boy!--and said that James was a sportsman and that he wanted to know him better! He said he had never felt so drawn towards any one in his life and he wanted him to show him how he made some blow which he called a right hook. The whole affair has simply endeared James to him, and Lady Corstorphine says that the Duke of Devizes read the account of the fight to the Premier that very evening and they both laughed till they nearly got apoplexy." Jimmy was deeply touched. He had not suspected such a sporting spirit in his antagonist. "Percy's all right." he said enthusiastically. "Dad, you ought to go back. It's only fair."