Arthur conceived a sincere admiration for Godfrey who could speak like this to a stranger, and at Scoones' and as much as possible outside, haunted him like a shadow.

Soon it was a regular thing for Godfrey to go to dine at the old Georgian house in Queen Anne's Gate upon Sunday evenings, where he became popular with the rather magnificent early-Victorian aunt who thought that he exercised a good influence upon her nephew.

Sometimes, too, Arthur would accompany Godfrey to Hampstead and sit smoking and making furtive caricatures of him and Mrs.Parsons, while he worked and she beamed admiration.

The occupation sounds dull, but somehow Arthur did not find it so; he said that it rested his overwrought brain.
"Look here, old fellow," said Godfrey at length, "have you any intention of passing that examination of yours ?" "In the interests of the Diplomatic Service and of the country I think not," replied Arthur reflectively.

"I feel that it is a case where true altruism becomes a duty." "Then what do you mean to do with yourself ?" "Don't know.