AN AMAZING TRANSFORMATION The novel which was to bring immortal fame and, incidentally, freedom from all financial responsibilities, to Burton, came back within a week, with a polite note which he was at first inclined to accept as some consolation until he found that it was stereotyped.

Within a few hours it was despatched to another firm of publishers, taken at random from the advertisement columns of the Times.

An hour or two afterwards Alfred arrived, with no label around his neck, but a veritable truant.
Of the two he was the more self-possessed as he greeted his amazed parent.
"I am sorry if you are angry about my coming, father," he said, a little tremulously.

"Something seems to have happened to mother during the last few days.

Everything that I do displeases her." "I am not angry," Burton declared, after a moment's amazed silence.
"The only thing is," he added, glancing helplessly around, "I don't know what to do with you.