"To London! why, you aren't going there, are you?" "I am." "To that man von what's-his-name?" "Of course." Len stared harder than ever. Then he suddenly lost his temper. "'Of course'!--there's no 'of course' about it--except 'of course not.' Why, you told him you wouldn't hear of such a thing." "But I may change my mind, mayn't I?" "No--you mayn't. Look here, Nigel, you've led sister and self an infernal dance for the last three months. Can't you chuck it?" "I'm going to chuck it--by leaving this place." Leonard saw his brother was in earnest. He came quickly towards him, and laid his hand on his shoulder. "What have we done to upset you, old man?" "Nothing--you've always been sports." "Then why are you going?" Nigel hesitated. He could not bring himself to tell even this brother of his sacred, half-formed plans. "You won't miss me," he faltered. "Won't miss you! Won't miss you!--what the devil d'you mean?" "I'm no use on the farm--I laze and I slack. You'll get on much better without me." "Gammon! You're tumbling into it nicely, and if you go, I'll have to hire a man--and there'll be the expense of your keep in London. No, no, old chap--that won't wash." "Wait till you've tried it." "Haven't I been trying it for three years? Besides, my boy, this is only beating round the bush. The main fact is that Janey and I would miss you simply damnably." "Not really," said Nigel, his mouth drooping with a great tenderness, "you'd soon feel the relief of being rid of me and my tantrums." There was a knock at the door. "That's Janey," cried Len. "Come in, old girl--I want you." Janey came in. Nigel was nearly dressed, and had begun to shave. "Breakfast's----" began Janey. "Yes--I know all about breakfast. That isn't what's the matter. Len wants you to join him in trying to persuade me not to go to London." "But you're not going to London!..." "I'm writing this morning to von Gleichroeder to say I've changed my mind." "No!... Nigel!" cried Janey. For a moment she stood as if paralyzed, then suddenly she darted towards him, and flung her arms round him, looking up beseechingly into his face. "Nigel! no!--you mustn't leave us--I can't bear it. Oh, say you won't!" "Damn you, Janey!--can't you see I've got a razor in my hand?" She was taking it even worse than he had expected. She seemed actually terrified. "I can't live here without you," she cried brokenly, "indeed I can't." He gently disengaged himself. "Most people's difficulty," he said, deliberately lathering his chin, "has not been how to live without me, but how to live with me." "But I can't live without you." "You've got Len." "But he's only--only half."