like a nutmeg-grater and rasped her skin, and who was saying jerkily:-

"The greatest time of my life. You see, I ain't used to things. . . " He
looked about him helplessly. "To people and houses like this. It's all
new to me, and I like it."

"I hope you'll call again," she said, as he was saying good night to her
brothers.

He pulled on his cap, lurched desperately through the doorway, and was
gone.

"Well, what do you think of him?" Arthur demanded.

"He is most interesting, a whiff of ozone," she answered. "How old is
he?"

"Twenty--almost twenty-one. I asked him this afternoon. I didn't think
he was that young."

And I am three years older, was the thought in her mind as she kissed her
brothers goodnight.




CHAPTER III


As Martin Eden went down the steps, his hand dropped into his coat