When Jimmy arrived at Mr. Pett's office on Pine Street atten-thirty the next morning--his expressed intention of gettingup early enough to be there by nine having proved an emptyboast--he was in a high state of preparedness. He had made readyfor what might be a trying interview by substituting acombination of well-chosen dishes at an expensive hotel for theless imaginative boarding-house breakfast with which he had oflate been insulting his interior. His suit was pressed, his shoesgleamed brightly, and his chin was smoothly shaven. These things,combined with the perfection of the morning and that vagueexhilaration which a fine day in down-town New York brings to theman who has not got to work, increased his natural optimism.

　　Something seemed to tell him that all would he well. He wouldhave been the last person to deny that his position was a littlecomplicated--he had to use a pencil and a sheet of paper to showhimself just where he stood--but what of that? A fewcomplications in life are an excellent tonic for the brain. Itwas with a sunny geniality which startled that unaccustomedstripling considerably--and indeed caused him to swallow hischewing gum--that he handed in his card to Mr. Pett's watchfullywaiting office-boy.

　　"This to the boss, my open-faced lad!" he said. "Get swiftly offthe mark."The boy departed dumbly.

　　From where he stood, outside the barrier which separated visitorsto the office from the workers within, Jimmy could see a vista ofefficient-looking young men with paper protectors round theircuffs working away at mysterious jobs which seemed to involve theuse of a great deal of paper. One in particular was so surroundedby it that he had the appearance of a bather in surf. Jimmy eyedthese toilers with a comfortable and kindly eye. All thisindustry made him feel happy. He liked to think of this sort ofthing going on all round him.

　　The office-boy returned. "This way, please."The respectfulness of the lad's manner had increased noticeably.

　　Mr. Pett's reception of the visitor's name had impressed him. Itwas an odd fact that the financier, a cipher in his own home,could impress all sorts of people at the office.

　　To Mr. Pett, the announcement that Mr. James Crocker was waitingto see him had come like the announcement of a miracle. Not a dayhad passed since their return to America without lamentationsfrom Mrs. Pett on the subject of their failure to secure theyoung man's person. The occasion of Mrs. Pett's reading of thearticle in the _Sunday Chronicle_ descriptive of the Lord PercyWhipple affair had been unique in the little man's domestichistory. For the first time since he had known her theindomitable woman had completely broken down. Of all sad words oftongue or pen the saddest are these "It might have been!" and thethought that, if she had only happened to know it, she had had inher hands during that interview with her sister in London aweapon which would have turned defeat into triumph was more thaneven Mrs. Pett's strong spirit could endure. When she looked backon that scene and recalled the airy way in which Mrs. Crocker hadspoken of her step-son's "best friend, Lord Percy Whipple" andrealised that at that very moment Lord Percy had been recoveringin bed from the effects of his first meeting with Jimmy Crocker,the iron entered into her soul and she refused to be comforted.

　　In the first instant of realisation she thought of six separateand distinct things she could have said to her sister, each morecrushing than the last--things which now she would never be ableto say.

　　And now, suddenly and unaccountably, the means was at hand forrestoring her to her tranquil self-esteem. Jimmy Crocker, despitewhat his stepmother had said, probably in active defiance of hercommands, had come to America after all. Mr. Pett's first thoughtwas that his wife would, as he expressed it to himself, be"tickled to death about this." Scarcely waiting for theoffice-boy to retire, he leaped towards Jimmy like a gambollinglamb and slapped him on the back with every evidence of joy andfriendliness.

　　"My dear boy!" he cried. "My dear boy! I'm delighted to see you!"Jimmy was surprised, relieved, and pleased. He had not expectedthis warmth. A civil coldness had been the best he had lookedfor. He had been given to understand that in the Pett home he wasregarded as the black sheep: and, while one may admit a blacksheep into the fold, it does not follow that one must ofnecessity fawn upon him.

　　"You're very kind," he said, rather startled.

　　They inspected each other for a brief moment. Mr. Pett wasthinking that Jimmy was a great improvement on the picture hisimagination had drawn of him. He had looked for somethingtougher, something flashy and bloated. Jimmy, for his part, hadtaken an instant liking to the financier. He, too, had beenmisled by imagination. He had always supposed that thesemillionaires down Wall Street way were keen, aggressive fellows,with gimlet eyes and sharp tongues. On the boat he had only seenMr. Pett from afar, and had had no means of estimating hischaracter. He found him an agreeable little man.

　　"We had given up all hope of your coming," said Mr. Pett.

　　A little manly penitence seemed to Jimmy to be in order.

　　"I never expected you would receive me like this. I thought Imust have made myself rather unpopular."Mr. Pett buried the past with a gesture.

　　"When did you land?" he asked.

　　"This morning. On the _Caronia_ . . .""Good passage?""Excellent."There was a silence. It seemed to Jimmy that Mr. Pett was lookingat him rather more closely than was necessary for the actualenjoyment of his style of beauty. He was just about to throw outsome light remark about the health of Mrs. Pett or somethingabout porpoises on the voyage to add local colour andverisimilitude, when his heart missed a beat, as he perceivedthat he had made a blunder. Like many other amateur plotters, Annand he had made the mistake of being too elaborate. It had struckthem as an ingenious idea for Jimmy to pretend that he hadarrived that morning, and superficially it was a good idea: buthe now remembered for the first time that, if he had seen Mr.

　　Pett on the _Atlantic_, the probability was that Mr. Pett had seenhim. The next moment the other had confirmed this suspicion.

　　"I've an idea I've seen you before. Can't think where.""Everybody well at home?" said Jimmy.

　　"I'm sure of it.""I'm looking forward to seeing them all.""I've seen you some place.""I'm often there.""Eh?"Mr. Pett seemed to be turning this remark over in his mind atrifle suspiciously. Jimmy changed the subject.

　　"To a young man like myself," he said, "with life opening outbefore him, there is something singularly stimulating in thesight of a modern office. How busy those fellows seem!""Yes," said Mr. Pett. "Yes." He was glad that this conversationalnote had been struck. He was anxious to discuss the future withthis young man.

　　"Everybody works but father!" said Jimmy.

　　Mr. Pett started.

　　"Eh?""Nothing."Mr. Pett was vaguely ruffled. He suspected insult, but could notpin it down. He abandoned his cheeriness, however, and became theman of business.

　　"I hope you intend to settle down, now that you are here, andwork hard," he said in the voice which he vainly tried to use onOgden at home.

　　"Work!"............