"I am afraid I must."
"It isn't walking, you know. The fly is ordered. And Evelyn will expect you. Wouldn't going do you good?"
Jem could truly answer, "No, I think not." He added in a gentle voice, which Jean knew to be decisive—"Tell aunt Marie I will give it up. And, Jean, I wish you would explain something else. I am sorry, but I find I can only stay two more nights here."
"You are not thinking of London again so soon."
"No."
Jean moved away without a protest, and gave her double message.
"Well, it can't be helped, though I know your father will be vexed," was Madame Collier's comment. "There's something wrong with Jem that we don't understand. Go home in two days! That he will not. He has heard something from somebody by post, I suppose. It doesn't matter. We won't let him off any of his week."
But when Jem knew himself to be in the right, his will was unbending as iron. After two nights, he left and he did not see Evelyn again meantime.
[CHAPTER VI.]
FRICTION.