CHAPTER XVIII.
Recognizing the neat back of Mr.Lanley's gray head, Pete's first idea was that he must have come to induce Mrs.Wayne to conspire with him against the marriage; but he abandoned this notion on seeing his occupation.
"Hullo, Mr.Lanley," he said, stooping to kiss his mother with the casual affection of the domesticated male.

"You have my job." "It is a great pleasure to be of any service," said Mr.Lanley.
"It was in a terrible state, it seems, Pete," said his mother.
"She makes her fours just like sevens, doesn't she ?" observed Pete.
"I did not notice the similarity," replied Mr.Lanley.He glanced at Mrs.
Wayne, however, and enjoyed his denial almost as much as he had enjoyed the discovery that the Wilsey ancestor had not been a Signer.

He felt that somehow, owing to his late-nineteenth-century tact, the breach between him and Pete had been healed.
"Mr.Lanley is going to stay and dine with me," said Mrs.Wayne.
Pete looked a little grave, but his next sentence explained the cause of his anxiety.
"Wouldn't you like me to go out and get something to eat, Mother ?" "No, no," answered his mother, firmly.

"This time there really is something in the house quite good.

I don't remember what it is." And then Pete, who felt he had done his duty, went off to dress.