He did not want to tell his mother what he was going through, for the obvious and perhaps unworthy reason that it was just what she would have expected him to go through.

At the same time a real deceit was involved in concealing it, and so, tipping his chair back against her wall, he said: "The firm has asked me to go to China for them." His mother turned, her whole face lit up with interest.
"To China! How interesting!" she said.

"China is a wonderful country.

How I should like to go to China!" "Come along.

I don't start for two weeks." She shook her head.
"No, if you go, I'll make a trip to that hypnotic clinic of Dr.
Platerbridge's; and if I can learn the trick, I will open one here." The idea crossed Wayne's mind that perhaps he had not the power of inspiring affection.
"You don't miss people a bit, do you, Mother ?" he said.
"Yes, Pete, I do; only there is so much to be done.