When, the Christmas fight well over, with manifest triumph on his side he went down for a couple of days to St.Neots, once more he had his reward.

But the struggle was telling upon his health; it showed in his face, in his bearing.

Mother and sister spoke uneasily of a change they noticed; surely he was working too hard; what did he mean by taking no summer holiday?
Will laughed.
"Business, business! A good deal to do at first, you know.

Things'll be smoother next year." And the comfort, the quiet, the simple contentment of that little house by the Ouse, sent him back to Fulham Road, once more resigned, courageous.
Naturally, he sometimes contrasted his own sordid existence with the unforeseen success which had made such changes in the life of Norbert Franks.

It was more than three months since he and Franks had met, when, one day early in January, he received a note from the artist.
"What has become of you?
I haven't had a chance of getting your way--work and social foolery.