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by the resourceful influence of an ambitious wife； into a man with
some definite purpose in life。 The prospect had vanished with
cruel suddenness； and the anxieties were crowding back again； more
insistent than ever。 The boy had had his one good chance in the
matrimonial market and missed it； if he were to transfer his
attentions to some other well…dowered girl he would be marked down
at once as a fortune…hunter； and that would constitute a heavy
handicap to the most plausible of wooers。 His liking for Elaine
had evidently been genuine in its way； though perhaps it would have
been rash to read any deeper sentiment into it； but even with the
spur of his own inclination to assist him he had failed to win the
prize that had seemed so temptingly within his reach。 And in the
dashing of his prospects； Francesca saw the threatening of her own。
The old anxiety as to her precarious tenure of her present quarters
put on again all its familiar terrors。 One day； she foresaw； in
the horribly near future； George St。 Michael would come pattering
up her stairs with the breathless intelligence that Emmeline
Chetrof was going to marry somebody or other in the Guards or the
Record Office as the case might be； and then there would be an
uprooting of her life from its home and haven in Blue Street and a
wandering forth to some cheap unhappy far…off dwelling； where the
stately Van der Meulen and its companion host of beautiful and
desirable things would be stuffed and stowed away in soulless
surroundings； like courtly emigres fallen on evil days。 It was
unthinkable； but the trouble was that it had to be thought about。
And if Comus had played his cards well and transformed himself from
an encumbrance into a son with wealth at his command； the tragedy
which she saw looming in front of her might have been avoided or at
the worst whittled down to easily bearable proportions。 With money
behind one； the problem of where to live approaches more nearly to
the simple question of where do you wish to live； and a rich
daughter…in…law would have surely seen to it that she did not have
to leave her square mile of Mecca and go out into the wilderness of
bricks and mortar。 If the house in Blue Street could not have been
compounded for there were other desirable residences which would
have been capable of consoling Francesca for her lost Eden。 And
now the detested Courtenay Youghal； with his mocking eyes and air
of youthful cynicism； had stepped in and overthrown those golden
hopes and plans whose non…fulfilment would make such a world of
change in her future。 Assuredly she had reason to feel bitter
against that young man； and she was not disposed to take a very
lenient view of Comus's own mismanagement of the affair； her
greeting when he at last arrived； was not couched in a sympathetic
strain。
〃So you have lost your chance with the heiress；〃 she remarked
abruptly。
〃Yes；〃 said Comus； coolly； 〃Courtenay Youghal has added her to his
other successes。〃
〃And you have added her to your other failures；〃 pursued Francesca；
relentlessly； her temper had been tried that day beyond ordinary
limits。
〃I thought you seemed getting along so well with her；〃 she
continued； as Comus remained uncommunicative。
〃We hit it off rather well together；〃 said Comus； and added with
deliberate bluntness； 〃I suppose she got rather sick at my
borrowing money from her。 She thought it was all I was after。〃
〃You borrowed money from her！〃 said Francesca； 〃you were fool
enough to borrow money from a girl who was favourably disposed
towards you； and with Courtenay Youghal in the background waiting
to step in and oust you！〃
Francesca's voice trembled with misery and rage。 This great stroke
of good luck that had seemed about to fall into their laps had been
thrust aside by an act or series of acts of wanton paltry folly。
The good ship had been lost for the sake of the traditional
ha'porth of tar。 Comus had paid some pressing tailor's or
tobacconist's bill with a loan unwillingly put at his disposal by
the girl he was courting； and had flung away his chances of
securing a wealthy and in every way desirable bride。 Elaine de
Frey and her fortune might have been the making of Comus； but he
had hurried in as usual to effect his own undoing。 Calmness did
not in this case come with reflection； the more Francesca thought
about the matter； the more exasperated she grew。 Comus threw
himself down in a low chair and watched her without a trace of
embarrassment or concern at her mortification。 He had come to her
feeling rather sorry for himself； and bitterly conscious of his
defeat； and she had met him with a taunt and without the least hint
of sympathy； he determined that she should be tantalised with the
knowledge of how small and stupid a thing had stood between the
realisation and ruin of her hopes for him。
〃And to think she should be captured by Courtenay Youghal；〃 said
Francesca； bitterly； 〃I've always deplored your intimacy with that
young man。〃
〃It's hardly my intimacy with him that's made Elaine accept him；〃
said Comus。
Francesca realised the futility of further upbraiding。 Through the
tears of vexation that stood in her eyes； she looked across at the
handsome boy who sat opposite her； mocking at his own misfortune；
perversely indifferent to his folly； seemingly almost indifferent
to its consequences。
〃Comus；〃 she said quietly and wearily； 〃you are an exact reversal
of the legend of Pandora's Box。 You have all the charm and
advantages that a boy could want to help him on in the world； and
behind it all there is the fatal damning gift of utter
hopelessness。〃
〃I think；〃 said Comus； 〃that is the best description that anyone
has ever given of me。〃
For the moment there was a flush of sympathy and something like
outspoken affection between mother and son。 They seemed very much
alone in the world just now； and in the general overturn of hopes
and plans； there flickered a chance that each might stretch out a
hand to the other； and summon back to their lives an old dead love
that was the best and strongest feeling either of them had known。
But the sting of disappointment was too keen； and the flood of
resentment mounted too high on either side to allow the chance more
than a moment in which to flicker away into nothingness。 The old
fatal topic of estrangement came to the fore； the question of
immediate ways and means； and mother and son faced themselves again
as antagonists on a well…disputed field。
〃What is done is done；〃 said Francesca； with a movement of tragic
impatience that belied the philosophy of her words； 〃there is
nothing to be gained by crying over spilt milk。 There is the
present and the future to be thought about； though。 One can't go
on indefinitely as a tenant…for…life in a fools' paradise。〃 Then
she pulled herself together and proceeded to deliver an ultimatum
which the force of circumstances no longer permitted her to hold in
reserve。
〃It's not much use talking to you about money； as I know from long
experience； but I can only tell you this； that in the middle of the
Season I'm already obliged to be thinking of leaving Town。 And
you； I'm afraid； will have to be thinking of leaving England at
equally short notice。 Henry told me the other day that he can get
you something out in West Africa。 You've had your chance of doing
something better for yourself from the financial point of view； and
you've thrown it away for the sake of borrowing a little ready
money for your luxuries； so now you must take what you can get。
The pay won't be very good at first； but living is not dear out
there。〃
〃West Africa；〃 said Comus； reflectively； 〃it's a sort of modern
substitute for the old…fashioned OUBLIETTE； a convenient depository
for tiresome people。 Dear Uncle Henry may talk lugubriously about
the burden of Empire； but he evidently recognises its uses as a
refuse consumer。〃
〃My dear Comus； you are talking of the West Africa of yesterday。
While you have been wasting your time at school； and worse than
wasting your time in the West End； other people have been grappling
with the study of tropical diseases； and the West African coast
country is being rapidly transformed from a lethal chamber into a
sanatorium。〃
Comus laughed mockingly。
〃What a beautiful bit of persuasive prose； it reminds one of the
Psalms and even more of a company prospectus。 If you were honest
you'd confess that you lifted it straight out of a rubber or
railway promotion scheme。 Seriously； mother； if I must grub about
for a living； why can't I do it in England？ I could go into a
brewery for instance。〃
Francesca shook her head decisively； she could foresee the sort of
steady work Comus was l