Not for long had he revelled in the luxury of a new happiness.

He had openly avowed his dislike of concerts, when his mother had made him take a ticket for this concert.

With her quickness of apprehension what might she not suspect, if she found him among the audience?
Come what might of it, he still kept his place; he still feasted his eyes on the slim figure of the young girl, on the gentle yet spirited carriage of her head.

But the pleasure was no longer pleasure without alloy.

His mother had got between them now.
The solo on the piano came to an end.
In the interval that followed, he turned once more towards the entrance.
Just as he was looking away again, he heard Mrs.Gallilee's loud voice.
She was administering a maternal caution to one of the children.