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 his chance with other men.

But Dick, glancing at his watch, uttered an exclamation of annoyance. &quot;Oh, by Jove, I shan't have time after all. Gill is waiting for me now; we must have dawdled over dinner.&quot; He bent to give his mother a caressing tap on the cheek. &quot;Now don't worry,&quot; he adjured her; and as she smiled back at him he added with a sudden happy blush: &quot;She does n't, you know: she's so sure of me.&quot;

Mrs. Peyton's smile faded, and laying a detaining hand on his, she said with sudden directness: &quot;Sure of you, or of your success?&quot;

He hesitated. &quot;Oh, she regards them as synonymous. She thinks I'm bound to get on.&quot;

&quot;But if you don't?&quot;

He shrugged laughingly, but with a slight contraction of his confident brows. &quot;Why, I shall have to make way for some one