Well, he could go home. . . . No, he couldn't. His pride revolted at that solution. Prodigal Son stuff was all very well in its way, but it lost its impressiveness if you turned up again at home two weeks after you had left. A decent interval among the husks and swine was essential. Besides, there was his father to consider. He might be a poor specimen of a fellow, as witness the _Sunday Chronicle_ _passim_, but he was not so poor as to come slinking back to upset things for his father just when he had done the only decent thing by removing himself. No, that was out of the question. What remained? The air of New York is bracing and healthy, but a man cannot live on it. Obviously he must find a job. But what job? What could he do? A gnawing sensation in the region of the waistcoat answered the question. The solution--which it put forward was, it was true, but a temporary one, yet it appealed strongly to Jimmy. He had found it admirable at many crises. He would go and lunch, and it might be that food would bring inspiration. He moved from his doorway and crossed to the entrance of the subway. He caught a timely express, and a few minutes later emerged into the sunlight again at Grand Central. He made his way westward along Forty-second Street to the hotel which he thought would meet his needs. He had scarcely entered it when in a chair by the door he perceived Ann Chester, and at the sight of her all his depression vanished and he was himself again. "Why, how do you do, Mr. Bayliss? Are you lunching here?" "Unless there is some other place that you would prefer," said Jimmy. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting." Ann laughed. She was looking very delightful in something soft and green. "I'm not going to lunch with you. I'm waiting for Mr. Ralstone and his sister. Do you remember him? He crossed over with us. His chair was next to mine on the promenade deck." Jimmy was shocked. When he thought how narrowly she had escaped, poor girl, from lunching with that insufferable pill Teddy--or was it Edgar?--he felt quite weak. Recovering himself, he spoke firmly. "When were they to have met you?" "At one o'clock." "It is now five past. You are certainly not going to wait any longer. Come with me, and we will whistle for cabs." "Don't be absurd!" "Come along. I want to talk to you about my future." "I shall certainly do nothing of the kind," said Ann, rising. She went with him to the door. "Teddy would never forgive me." She got into the cab. "It's only because you have appealed to me to help you discuss your future," she said, as they drove off. "Nothing else would have induced me . . ." "I know," said Jimmy. "I felt that I could rely on your womanly sympathy. Where shall we go?" "Where do you want to go? Oh, I forget that you have never been in New York before. By the way, what are your impressions of our glorious country?" "Most gratifying, if only I could get a job."