The Education of Eric Lane

another half handful of verbena salts; but, even lacking this, the water was still too hot to be lightly dismissed with an aggrieved gurgle down the waste-pipe. It was an added self-indu

etters which his secretary had left for him to sign, or the hot bath, or the cigarette and glass of sherry as he dressed, or (in t

defatigably, another rehearsing and a third in sight of completion, he had decided to construct a frame better suited to his new position. Ten years ago he had dreamed at Oxford of a day when he would burst upon London as a new young Byron; and, when the dream was almost forgotten, he found himself living in its midst. He was courted and quoted, photographed and "paragraphed"; Lady Poynter and the rich, malcontent world which aspired to intelligence humbly invited him to dine, and it did not matter whether s

play and grateful to it; grateful for money, reputation and the added importance of himself. As he entered the Carlton that day one unknown woman had whispered to another, "Isn't that Eric Lane? I thought he was older." He was boy enough to be gratified that seventeen people had stopped h

first night, to be followed by a telegram: "Best wishes for all possible success Agnes." He had kept it for luck and in gratitude to Agnes Waring, who had been a sympathetic, if rather undiscriminating, friend for many years. Until eight months ago he had never earned enough money to think of marrying; and, at thirty-two, he told himself that he was no

good press; but mere flattery never kept a bad play running.... He decided that he was going to enjoy his dinner with the Poynters, though the chiming of the clock in the hall warned him that he could not hope to be dressed and in Belgrave Square by a quarter past eight. The new Byron would achieve an effect, if he ga

re unprocurable in war-time. He let fall a word of instruction on the correct way of laying out dress-clothes and was beginning to get ready in earnest, when the te

oring to see whether the

e you coming down on Saturday? You've not b

y to carry as far as Winchester. The prophet could look for affectio

ntial to the family h

nes Waring amongst others. You can bring your work with you.

Eric answered.

uch a hurry! What ar

te for dinner with some peopl

e in reply was sl

only wanted to know if you'd seen a

got him to shove it in. As my own advertising

. You're being spoilt

had set out to become. After all, he could have entered the Civil Service ten years before, as his father had wished; and there would have been ten years of material comfort, an unchallengeable social position, a wife, a home, spiritual paralysis and soul-destroying domestic worries as his portion. Instead, he had electe

e, with coat-collar turned up, to hear just that?) In another month they would be going to "The Bomb-Shell," because it was by the fellow who wrote "A Divorce Has Been Arranged."... He had money, friends, adulators and the health to do a full day's work. In speak

ht. He handed his hat and cane to a footman and followed the butler upstairs with complete se

ric L-

ot overcome that stammer, so entir