and they seemed to have so little they cared to or could share with him. One black night he had when, after coming in late in the afternoon, he found his mother unaided moving the heavy iron bedstead and wire mattress from George's room to her own. He gulped down his dismay, and stood on the stairs watching her. She had not heard him, and went on until suddenly she caught sight of him and jumped. "Oh!" "Shall I help you?" "_It is_--too heavy for me." "Where is--he?" "He went out. He thought he saw old Mr. Timperley in Derby Street to-day. Of course you don't remember Mr. Timperley." "In your room?" She hesitated: "We--we sold the old bed, you know." He helped her without another word. Together in silence they put George's bed up alongside her own, and in silence when it was done René left her. He went to his room and sat, staring unseeing at the five privet bushes and the old bicycle shed. Presently she came to him and sat on his bed, and gazed at him like a mournful, shy little bird. "You mustn't make it hard for us, René." "I--I thought I was making it easy." "His brothers won't see him." "Why not?" "They won't. They're hard people, the Fourmys. They can't forget the past. They say they won't help me any more if I let him stay, and not a penny will they leave me." "You'll let him stay?" "He knows it was cruel of him to leave as--as he did. But he had a lot to bear, really he did, René. He was very proud. It's his pride has been against him always, René." "What did he do else?" "Nothing very much. Only people talked. And he didn't get on. That was his pride too. You can do anything if only you get on. He never could work for other people. He was a clever man too. You get your cleverness from him. I'm sure it's not from me. He was always trying different things, but he couldn't get on. He did some silly things too." "You won't tell me, then?" "I have told you." "What's he going to do? Go on eating and eating?" "He'll look for work. Of course, at his age, it won't be easy." "What's he been doing all this time?" "He's been rich and lost it all again. He came back to England with quite a lot of money." "He didn't think of you then." "He lost it nearly all. Do be nice to him, René! He thinks such a lot of you. George is quite nice, and Elsie loves him already, but he thinks most of you. I've been telling him how wonderful you've been, and he says nothing must interfere with your career." "But someone must make money." "Only for a little. He says we could make much more with my money if it were re-invested." René swung round. "He's not to touch that, do you hear? You're a soft fool, mother. He's not to touch that. I'll work myself to the bone first." "That's dear of you, René. And you will be nice to him, won't you?" "All right, all right."