They left the subway at Ninety-sixth Street and walked up theDrive. Jimmy, like every one else who saw it for the first time,experienced a slight shock at the sight of the Pett mansion, but,rallying, followed his uncle up the flagged path to the frontdoor.

　　"Your aunt will be in the drawing-room, I guess," said Mr. Pett,opening the door with his key.

　　Jimmy was looking round him appreciatively. Mr. Pett's housemight be an eyesore from without, but inside it had had thebenefit of the skill of the best interior decorator in New York.

　　"A man could be very happy in a house like this, if he didn'thave to poison his days with work," said Jimmy.

　　Mr. Pett looked alarmed.

　　"Don't go saying anything like that to your aunt!" he urged. "Shethinks you have come to settle down.""So I have. I'm going to settle down like a limpet. I hope Ishall be living in luxury on you twenty years from now. Is thisthe room?"Mr. Pett opened the drawing-room door. A small hairy objectsprang from a basket and stood yapping in the middle of the room.

　　This was Aida, Mrs. Pett's Pomeranian. Mr. Pett, avoiding theanimal coldly, for he disliked it, ushered Jimmy into the room.

　　"Here's Jimmy Crocker, Nesta."Jimmy was aware of a handsome woman of middle age, so like hisstep-mother that for an instant his self-possession left him andhe stammered.

　　"How--how do you do?"His demeanour made a favourable impression on Mrs. Pett. She tookit for the decent confusion of remorse.

　　"I was very surprised when your uncle telephoned me," she said.

　　"I had not the slightest idea that you were coming over. I amvery glad to see you.""Thank you.""This is your cousin, Ogden."Jimmy perceived a fat boy lying on a settee. He had not risen onJimmy's entrance, and he did not rise now. He did not even lowerthe book he was reading.

　　"Hello," he said.

　　Jimmy crossed over to the settee, and looked down on him. He hadgot over his momentary embarrassment, and, as usual with him, thereaction led to a fatal breeziness. He prodded Ogden in hiswell-covered ribs, producing a yelp of protest from thatastounded youth.

　　"So this is Ogden! Well, well, well! You don't grow up, Ogden,but you do grow out. What are you--a perfect sixty-six?"The favourable impression which Mrs. Pett had formed of hernephew waned. She was shocked by this disrespectful attitudetowards the child she worshipped.

　　"Please do not disturb Ogden, James," she said stiffly. "He isnot feeling very well to-day. His stomach is weak.""Been eating too much?" said Jimmy cheerfully.

　　"I was just the same at his age. What he wants is half rationsand plenty of exercise.""Say!" protested Ogden.

　　"Just look at this," proceeded Jimmy, grasping a handful ofsuperfluous tissue around the boy's ribs. "All that ought to comeoff. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll buy a pair of flanneltrousers and a sweater and some sneakers, and I'll take him for arun up Riverside Drive this evening. Do him no end of good. And agood skipping-rope, too. Nothing like it. In a couple of weeksI'll have him as fit as a--""Ogden's case," said Mrs. Pett coldly, "which is verycomplicated, is in the hands of Doctor Briginshaw, in whom wehave every confidence."There was a silence, the paralysing effects of which Mr. Pettvainly tried to mitigate by shuffling his feet and coughing.

　　Mrs. Pett spoke.

　　"I hope that, now that you are here, James, you intend to settledown and work hard.""Indubitably. Like a beaver," said Jimmy, mindful of Mr. Pett'srecent warning. "The only trouble is that there seems to be alittle uncertainty as to what I am best fitted for. We talked itover in uncle Pete's office and arrived at no conclusion.""Can't you think of anything?" said Mr. Pett.

　　"I looked right through the telephone classified directory theother day--""The other day? But you only landed this morning.""I mean this morning. When I was looking up your address so thatI could go and see you," said Jimmy glibly." It seems a long timeago. I think the sight of all those fellows in your office hasaged me. I think the best plan would be for me to settle downhere and learn how to be an electrical engineer or something bymail. I was reading an advertisement in a magazine as we came upon the subway. I see they guarantee to teach you anything fromsheet metal working to poultry raising. The thing began 'You arestanding still because you lack training.' It seemed to me toapply to my case exactly. I had better drop them a line to-nightasking for a few simple facts about chickens."Whatever comment Mrs. Pett might have made on this suggestion waschecked by the entrance of Ann. From the window of her room Annhad observed the arrival of Jimmy and her uncle, and now, havingallowed sufficient time to elapse for the former to make Mrs.

　　Pett's acquaintance, she came down to see how things were going.

　　She was well satisfied with what she saw. A slight strain whichshe perceived in the atmosphere she attributed to embarrassmentnatural to the situation.

　　She looked at Jimmy enquiringly. Mrs. Pett had not informed herof Mr. Pett's telephone call, so Jimmy, she realised, had to beexplained to her. She waited for some one to say something.

　　Mr. Pett undertook the introduction.

　　"Jimmy, this is my niece, Ann Chester. This is Jimmy Crocker,Ann."Jimmy could not admire sufficiently the start of surprise whichshe gave. It was artistic and convincing.

　　"Jimmy Crocker!"Mr. Pett was on the point of mentioning that this was not thefirst time Ann had met Jimmy, but refrained. After all, thatinterview had happened five years ago. Jimmy had almost certainlyforgotten all about it. There was no use in making him feelunnecessarily awkward. It was up to Ann. If she wanted todisinter the ancient grievance, let her. It was no business ofhis.

　　"I thought you weren't coming over!" said Ann.

　　"I changed my mind."Mr. Pett, who had been gazing attentively at them, uttered anexclamation.

　　"I've got it! I've been trying all this while to think where itwas that I saw you before. It was on the _Atlantic_!"Ann caught Jimmy's eye. She was relieved to see that he was notdisturbed by this sudden development.

　　"Did you come over on the _Atlantic_, Mr. Crocker?" she said.

　　"Surely not? We crossed on her ourselves. We should have met.""Don't call me Mr. Crocker," said Jimmy. "Call me Jimmy. Yourmother's brother's wife's sister's second husband is my father.

　　Blood is thicker than water. No, I came over on the _Caronia_. Wedocked this morning.""Well, there was a fellow just like you on the _Atlantic_,"persisted Mr. Pett.

　　Mrs. Pett said nothing. She was watching Jimmy with a keen andsuspicious eye.

　　"I suppose I'm a common type," said Jimmy.

　　"You remember the man I mean," said Mr. Pett, innocentlyunconscious of the unfriendly thoughts he was encouraging in twoof his ............