She looked toward Peter, dazed, as though not fully understanding. Then she saw how alone and upright he was standing; it dawned on her that he was really waiting for her to pronounce his sentence. She rose to her feet; her uncle's arm still about her. “Why--why, I think Peter's the most splendiferous boy in the world.” Barrington laughed. “D'you know, I didn't dare to say it; but that's just what I've been thinking all evening.” It was only when Glory's arms went about him that Peter sank below his standard of courage. “I guessed it all the while,” she whispered; “I was waiting for you to tell me. Why wouldn't you let me help you?” Ah, why, why? How often in years to come would she ask him that question, not with her lips as now, but with her gravely following eyes! CHAPTER XXIV--THE TRICYCLE MAKES A DISCOVERY H'I'm a better man than you are,” said Mr. Grace. “In wot respeck?” asked Mr. Somp. “In h'every respeck,” said Mr. Grace. “Nice wye yer've got o' h'arsking fer me darter's 'and.” Mr. Somp rubbed his nose, finished off his beer and winked at the barmaid. Then he turned with a smile of tolerant patronage to his future father-in-law. 'Any'ow, Cockie, h'I didn't need to h'arsk yer. Yer must allaws remember that you come in on the second h'act.” “Wot d'yer mean?” “H'I mean the curtain was h'up and the play'd began when you h'entered.” “H'information ter me--I'm larnin'.” Mr. Grace tossed off his pot to show his supreme contempt and signed for another. Having wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, he spoke reflectively. “So I h'entered when the bloomin' curtain was h'up! Now I h'allaws thought as I wuz be'ind the scenes and 'elped ter mike 'er.” “A peep be'ind the scenes,” chirped the barmaid; “read a book called that once. Mr. Grice this 'ouse is respeckable. If you ain't careful you'll get chucked h'out.” Mr. Somp looked deeply shocked. “That ain't no subjeck to mention before ladies--birth ain't a matter ter be discussed in publick. It 'appens to h'all of us, but people as is well brought h'up tries to ferget it.” Glancing round and seeing that opinion was against him, Mr. Grace retreated a step in the argument. “You said as h'I came in on the second h'act. As 'ow?” “H'after I'd h'arsked yer darter and she'd said 'yus.' In 'igh society h'it's considered perlite to h'arsk the purmission o' the parent.” “'Igh society be blowed. Pooh!” “Well, and 'avn't I been purmoted?” said Mr. Somp importantly, scenting an affront. Mr. Grace was surprised into an expression of astonishment. Then, in an effort to recover lost ground, “Wot mug purmoted you?” To the barmaid he said, “H'I'll be King's jockey if h'I wite long enough.” Mr. Somp swelled out his chest. “H'I got purmotion fer nabbin' that bloke Waffles. Wot d'yer sye ter me proposal now?” An audience of tap-room loafers had gathered; there was a reputation to be won. “H'I sye wot h'I've awready said. H'I'm a better man than you are and me darter's better.”