The Education of Eric Lane

onstructed that, by moving a clock-hand, the corresponding dial abandoned the non-committal elusiveness of "Please call me at--" for "Please call me at 8

last conscious act before collapsing into bed; if, again, he had retired early or were s

ed his hot-water can at the gas-ring, methodically folded his clothes, smoothed his trousers away in their press, selected a suit for the following day, washed face an

ival of a maid with tea, rusks, letters and The Times. His hea

sending me down with that woman, Rhoda? She's God's first and most perfect bore." There was an ill-written request for leave to translate his play into French, three news-cuttings to herald his new play, a conventional lett

k lay on his table, and he next wrote his diary for the previous day. "So to dinner-rather late-with Lady Poynter to meet her nephew, Capt. Gaymer (R. F. C). Mrs. O'Rane (as beautiful as ever, but too voluble for my taste), Mrs. Shelley and Lady

d and settled herself on

"Will you write first of all

the foot of his bed, and the girl made t

"Out of London. You're not sure when I

trument, while Eric glance

, he's away...." She looked despairingly at Eric. "He's

r the surname. She said you weren't away and

d make things as easy as possible: there would be no allusions, no sly smiles; the whole thing was to be forgotten. And yet she was already digging it from under the lightly sprinkle

told his secretary. "Where

e the girl, after a moment's hesitation, tip-toed out of the room.

old you yesterday, Lady Barbara. Just as when you say 'Not at home.'..

lways done what Barbara wanted; but, if she fancied that she was going to b

he line a gentle, rat

y aren't you in the book? Another device for escaping your adorers? I've been pu

important?" he i

efully and patiently and attentively when I'm talking to you. So

I'm very busy," he

that sort of thing

ny one to break into

to know whether you'll lunch here to-day

raid I

care who's lunching with you.... If you don't-Well, you'll see. In the mea

to the second," Eric a

r to invite us together. You do, you know; you want to see whether last night's impression was true;

oing to cut you off,"

Another forty-eight hours, and she'll expect me to drive round London and look at dresses with her...." But if his petulance had made her cry again ... Eric hunted for a pen and, without involving himself in delicacies of address, wrote-"I am not discourteous by preference, but you drive me to it. La comedia è finita." He left the note

gnal to get up so that he could be dressed by ten, so that he could work from ten till on

Shelley enquired tonelessly wheth

he exclaimed. "Can't you reconsider? Poo

d the wit to guess whe

rivilege of gratifying

nt to finish the sentenc

rs. Shelley. "Most people fall a vi

ghed. "And, anyway, I'm working. It's awful

eel you'll be doing her a kindness by coming; you amused her and turned her thoughts....

upt, startling cry, "You're hopeless, hopeless!"-just before she collapsed

for me to refuse," he sa

ul! I knew you

bed-clothes and

w I was coming, too," he said to himself.

rce" was being produced in America; and for an arid, perplexing half-hour Mr. Grierson, with eyes half-cl

can keep me in countenance. I'm getting rather tired of being told: 'Of course, with great respect, Lane, you're a new-comer to the theatre....' New-comer I may be, but it

middle of his preparations when Harry Manders entered in a suit of light tweeds, cl

s this you're givin' me? Well, only up to the top-On my honour, boy, only up to the top!" He nodded over the br

ience might save my play from furth

pocket. Eric's obstinate assurance would have exasperated any other manager, bu

ierson rose and shook a second cocktail; twice a maid announced that luncheon was on the table. Something, which he attributed to his broken night, made Eric u

at length. "The second act's got to stand as I

y, boy," began Manders. "Tu

ked at h

he said. "I don't know what there

to get cold. Now, in the

is knee as the now familiar knock of E

ee you, sir," she whispe

Eric answered curtly. "Tell her that two gentlemen have

h to say, "Why didn't you tell us? We shoul

rnestly. "As you will, but do go

opened again. This time there was no knock, and Lady Barbara walked in after hesitating for a moment on the threshold to identify Eric. She was wearing a black dress with a transparent film of grey hanging

ning-room and I could hardly resist it. There's a dressed crab-I behaved perfectly, I didn't touch it-and, if

waited for Eric to

an important discus

Oh, then I can help! But, if

h at home," Eric interrupted.

I've burnt your boats. Father was perfectly furious, because mother's l

ead on one side, he realized tha

ill be enough for

ne else turns up unexpectedly!" she cried, catchi

m, carefully brushing cigar-ash from their c