"Not at all. There's lots to say about him--or them."

"0h, you believe in Bacon!"

"Not at all--once more. I should like to take a fortnight and spend it among themanor-houses of Warwickshire. But I suppose nobody would stake me to that."

"I don't know what you have in mind; some wild goose chase, probably. Iexpect your friends would like it much better if you spent your time righthere."

"Probably. I presume I shall end by doing a thesis on the 'color-words' inKeats and Shelley. A penniless devil was no luck."

"Anybody has luck who can form the right circle. Stay where you are. Acircle formed here would do you much more good than a temporary one fourthousand miles away."

Voices were heard in the front yard. "There they come, now," Mrs. Phillipssaid. She rose, and one more of the wayward cushions went to the floor. Itlay there unregarded,--a sign that a promising tete-a-tete was, for thetime being, over.

3

_C0PE IS "ENTERTAINED"_