Nan rarely argued with her husband. Pushing back her chair, she went and knelt beside him, pressing her soft cheek against his hand. “You are a silly Billy, dearest, to be so serious on such a happy morning. There's no danger of Ocky ever becoming bad; and, in any case, what's this got to do with the matter? I know he's foolish and his jokes get on your nerves; but it isn't his fault that he's not clever like you. You shouldn't be gloomy just because he's going to be daring. I don't wonder he's sick of that lawyer's office. And it's absurd to think that he's going to be bad; look how Peter loves him. You like Ocky more than you pretend, now don't you?” “If liking's being sorry. I'm always sorry for an ass; and I'm angry with Jehane because she knows better. She's doing this because she's jealous of you--that's why she clutches at this bubble chance of prosperity.” “Ar'n't you a little unjust to her, Billy? Since our marriage, you've always been unjust to her. You know why she's jealous--she wants her husband to be like you.” Her voice sank away to a whisper. “Oh, Janey, I did, I did play fair,” she had said that night at Cassingland; in her violent assertion of fairness there had been an implied question which Jehane had never answered. Both she and her husband knew that they had never been acquitted. Barrington drew Nan's head against his shoulder. “Poor people.” Then he kissed her with new and eager gladness. “And it isn't only pity you feel for Ocky?” She persisted. “Now confess.” He pulled out his watch hastily and, having replaced it, gulped down his coffee. “When I was Peter's age, we were brought up like brothers together. I loved him then; I'm disappointed in him now. And yet I'm always catching glimpses in him of the little chap I played with. You see, at school I was the stronger and had to protect him. I was always fighting his battles. And one whole term, when his hand was poisoned, I had to take him to the doctor to get it dressed---- No, it isn't only pity, Pepperminta: it's memories.” As he was going out of the door she called after him, “Then, I suppose, I can write and say we'll have them?” “While they're moving--the children? Yes.” “Jehane doesn't say how many.” “She means all, I expect. There's the garden for them--it'll be fun for Kay and Peter.”