Mrs. Pell did come home shortly after Harrington had taken his departure. She came up to the third floor to put away some flannels she had bought for the boys.
“Reginald,” she said, as soon as she entered the room, “you have been smoking.”
Rex was reading by the window, and he turned around in startled disquiet.
“No, I haven’t, mother,” he replied quickly.
“Where does that smell of cigarette smoke come from, then?” and Mrs. Pell coughed and then came up close to look her son in the eye.
“Dudley Harrington has been here,” he replied. “He was smoking.”
“You are sure you were not smoking with him?” went on Mrs. Pell, adding with a sudden bending down over him, “Kiss me.”
Rex complied, glad indeed that this time, at any rate, there was nothing he wished to conceal.
“Forgive me for doubting you, Reggie,” said his mother, as she lingered an instant to stroke the hair back from his forehead.
Once more Rex weakened in his purpose, if one can be said to weaken when he is really stronger for the moment to resist an impulse for evil. But then he reflected that now he had the money and the opportunity of getting off to the station without being questioned. The facts seemed to will that he should go.