"If you haven't been here before, you'll like the old places."

"I am going to one of them."

"Which?"

"King's Crest."

A moment's silence. Then, "That's my home. I have lived there all my
life."

The lame man gave him a sharp glance. "I heard of it in
Washington--delightful atmosphere--and all that----"

"You are going as a--paying guest?"

"Yes."

A deep flush stained the younger man's face. Suddenly he broke out.
"If you knew how rotten it seems to me to have my mother
keeping--boarders----"

"My dear fellow, I hope you don't think it is going to be rotten to
have me?"

"No. But there are other people. And I didn't know until I came back
from France---- She had to tell me when she knew I was coming."

"She had been doing it all the time you were away?"