As It Was In The Beginning

That he had made no reply whatsoever to Fenton''s proposition he failed to realize till Gerald spoke again. ''Well, Sid,'' demanded that impetuous lieutenant of finance, ''gone dumb? Perhaps I haven''t made it plain,'' and he particularized on his fingers. ''You get an ocean trip of eight or ten weeks'' duration, tropic sun at its best, leisurely business without a fleck of bother, absolute rest, good provender, thorough recuperation, your entire expenses cheerfully paid, vast service rendered to me, no time lost on your equilibrator, time for countless new inventions to sprout in your fertile brain—and the unutterable joy of escaping this abominable climate, practically at once!'' Grenville''s smile, still brightly boyish, despite the many reverses and hardships of his six and twenty years, came creeping to his eyes. His wan face suggested a tint of color. ''Don''t wake me up for a moment, Fen,'' he answered. ''I haven''t dreamed anything like it for years.'' ''Dreamed?'' repeated Fenton, resuming his interrupted pacing up and down the rug, where the firelight reddened his profile. ''Does that mean you like it?—you''ll go?'' ''Would Cinderella go to a ball?'' replied the still incredulous Grenville, half seriously. ''What''s the joker, old chap? What is the worst that could happen at the midnight stroke of twelve?'' .''