Eternal honesty and reliability of man with man! A woman would have caught his anxious tones and given him sympathy and confirmation at the expense of belying her convictions. Rendell merely said what he felt and later Martin was glad of it. "If that is the case," Rendell answered quietly, "you're plainly the man for the job. It isn't often that the Empire gets an intelligent person who cares about his work." "I believe I'll like it when I'm there," Martin added. "Of course I know there will be gaps and times of despair. But I feel that I have had my seven fat years and it's up to me to face seven lean ones. Then fatness ought to come again." "Which, being interpreted," said Lawrence, "means seven years or so in the wilderness and then better jobs and a big screw and no end of a career." "I won't be as detailed as that. But as I've got to eat the pie I shall dig about for the plums. What do you think, Rendell, K.C., M.P.?" "I agree." "And you, Lord Mayor?" "I have every intention of making at least five thousand a year. My god, yes. If I go into that city I'll damned well fetch something out." "Anyhow," said Martin after a pause, "we have had years of plenty. It was all good, the Push and digs and everything." Rendell agreed. "It couldn't have been managed much better," he said. "We had some capital times." Lawrence yawned vastly. "You emotional lads," he said, "will soon be calling the Old School Ithaca and talking about 'stern nurses of men' and 'dreaming spires.' I can't allow it. Let's walk." They rose and went up silently into the hills like men who understand about walking. THE END THE RIVERSIDE PRESS LIMITED, EDINBURGH SINISTER STREET _By Compton Mackenzie_ _In Two Volumes. Crown 8vo Containing_ _in all 1152 pages. Price Six Shillings each_ CONTENTS OF VOLUME ONE _Book One: The Prison House_ I. THE NEW WORLD II. BITTERSWEET III. FEARS AND FANTASIES IV. UNENDING CHILDHOOD V. THE FIRST FAIRY PRINCESS VI. THE ENCHANTED PALACE VII. RANDELL HOUSE VIII. SIAMESE STAMPS IX. HOLIDAYS IN FRANCE _Book Two: Classic Education_ I. THE JACOBEAN II. THE QUADRUPLE INTRIGUE III. PASTORAL IV. BOYHOOD'S GLORY V. INCENSE VI. PAX VII. CLOVEN HOOFMARKS VIII. MIRRORS IX. THE YELLOW AGE X. STELLA XI. ACTION AND REACTION XII. ALAN XIII. SENTIMENT XIV. ARABESQUE XV. GREY EYES XVI. BLUE EYES XVII. LILY XVIII. EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO XIX. PARENTS XX. MUSIC 512 pages CONTENTS OF VOLUME TWO _Book Three: Dreaming Spires_