But I want to make sure of one thing. I'm not going to
stay on here much longer. I don't want a degree--it isn't the
slightest use, plain or coloured. I want to get to work. If you
come up again next term, I can stand it, not otherwise."
"Very well," said Howard, "that's a bargain. I must just talk
things over with Maud. If we come up to Cambridge in October, you
will stay till next June. If we don't, you shall be planted in the
business. They will take you in, I believe, at any time, but would
prefer you to finish your time here."
"Yes, that's it," said Jack, "but I want work: this is all right,
in a way, but it's mostly piffle. How all these Johnnies can dangle
on, I don't know; it's not my idea of life."
"Well, there's no hurry," said Howard, "but it shall be arranged as
you wish."
XXXI
MAKING THE BEST OF IT
Howard became aware that with his colleagues he had suddenly become
rather a person of importance. His "place" in the country was held
in some dim way to increase the grandeur of the College. He found
himself deferred to and congratulated. Mr. Redmayne was both
caustic and affectionate.
"You look very well, I must say," he said. "You have a touch of the
landed personage about you which becomes you. I should like you to
come back here for our sakes, but I shan't press it. And how is
Madam? I hope you have got rid of your first illusions? No? Well
you must make haste and be reasonable.
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