Mrs. Crocker turned to her husband.

　　"Well, Bingley?" she said, a steely tinkle in her voice.

　　"Well, Eugenia?" said Mr. Crocker.

　　A strange light was shining in Mr. Crocker's mild eyes. He hadseen a miracle happen that night. He had seen an even moreformidable woman than his wife dominated by an even meeker manthan himself, and he had been amazed and impressed by thespectacle. It had never even started to occur to him before, butapparently it could be done. A little resolution, a littledetermination . . . nothing more was needed. He looked at Mr.

　　Pett. And yet Mr. Pett had crumpled up Eugenia's sister withabout three firm speeches. It could be done. . . .

　　"What have you to say, Bingley?"Mr. Crocker drew himself up.

　　"Just this!" he said. "I'm an American citizen, and the way I'vefigured it out is that my place is in America. It's no goodtalking about it, Eugenia. I'm sorry if it upsets your plans, butI--am--not--going--back--to--London!" He eyed his speechless wifeunflatteringly. "I'm going to stick on here and see the pennantrace out. And after that I'm going to take in the World'sSeries."Mrs. Crocker opened her mouth to speak, closed it, re-opened it.

　　Then she found that she had nothing to say.

　　"I hope you'll be sensible, Eugenia, and stay on this side, andwe can all be happy. I'm sorry to have to take this stand, butyou tried me too high. You're a woman, and you don't know what itis to go five years without seeing a ball game; but take it fromme it's more than any real fan can stand. It nearly killed me,and I'm not going to risk it again. If Mr. Pett will keep me onas his butler, I'll stay here in this house. If he won't, I'llget another job somewhere. But, whatever happens, I stick to thisside!"Mr. Pett uttered a whoop of approval.

　　"There's always been a place for you in my house, old man!" hecried. "When I get a butler who--""But, Bingley! How can you be a butler?""You ought to watch him!" said Mr. Pett enthusiastically. "He's awonder! He can pull all the starchy stuff as if he'd lived withthe Duke of Whoosis for the last forty years, and then go rightoff and fling a pop-bottle at an umpire! He's all right!"The eulogy was wasted on Mrs. Crocker. She burst into tears. Itwas a new experience for her husband, and he watched herawkwardly, his resolute demeanour crumbling under this unexpectedassault.

　　"Eugenia!"Mrs. Crocker wiped her eyes.

　　"I can't stand it!" she sobbed. "I've worked and worked all theseyears, and now, just as success has nearly come--Bingley, _do_come back! It will only be for a little longer."Mr. Crocker stared.

　　"A little longer? Why, that Lord Percy Whipple business--I knowyou must have had excellent reasons for soaking him, Jimmy, butit did put the lid on it--surely, after that Lord Percy affairthere's no chance--?""There is! There is! It has made no difference at all! Lord Percycame to call next day with a black eye, poor boy!--and said thatJames was a sportsman and that he wanted to know him better! Hesaid he had never felt so drawn............