shall have to go. Sale; all the things shoved about and ticketed--lot
a hundred and one. Ugh!... It's been a larky little house in some ways.
The first we had. Furnishing--a spree in its way.... Very happy..." His
face winced at some memory. "Let's go on, George," he said shortly, near
choking, I could see.

I turned my back on him, and did not look round again for a little
while.

"That's how it is, you see, George." I heard him after a time.

When we were back in the high road again he came alongside, and for a
time we walked in silence.

"Don't say anything home yet," he said presently. "Fortunes of War. I
got to pick the proper time with Susan--else she'll get depressed. Not
that she isn't a first-rate brick whatever comes along."

"All right," I said, "I'll be careful"; and it seemed to me for the time
altogether too selfish to bother him with any further inquiries about
his responsibility as my trustee. He gave a little sigh of relief at
my note of assent, and was presently talking quite cheerfully of his
plans.... But he had, I remember, one lapse into moodiness that came and
went suddenly. "Those others!" he said, as though the thought had stung
him for the first time.

"What others?" I asked.

"Damn them!" said he.