The Wrong Box

the doors of John Street closed again upon its captives, but the glimpse was sometimes exhilarating, and the consequent regr

at moody and distempered ramble had carried Mr Forsyth to the corner of John Street; and about

rience, he carried into the Radical side of politics those noisy, after-dinner-table passions, which we are more accustomed to connect with Toryism in its severe and senile aspects. To the opinions of Mr Bradlaugh, in fact, he added the temper and the sympathies of that extinct animal, the Squire; he admired pugilism, he carried a formidable oaken staff, he was a reverent churchman, and it was hard to know which would have more volcanically stirred his choler — a person who should have defended the established church, or one who should have neglected to atten

e least desire to acquaint himself with law; he had looked into it already, and it seemed not to repay attention; but upon this also he was ready to give way. In fact, he would go as far as he could to meet the views of his uncle

street, half supported by some glistening athletes, the end of the largest packing-case in the county of Middlesex might have been seen prot

ou to take it away; it couldn’t get into the hous

n, and M. Finsbury can arrange with th

Finsbury,’ expo

er who you are,’

you, Miss Hazeltine,’ said

, which can only have come here by mistake, into the house. The man says we’ll have to take off the door, or knock two o

ow stood leaning against it, or gazing at the door of No. 16, in visible physical distress and mental embarras

coat and waistcoat, he assisted the men to take the door from its hinges. And lastly, all bystanders being pressed into the service, the packing-case mounted the steps upon some fifteen pairs of wavering legs — scraped, loudly grinding, through the doorway — and was deposited at length, with a formida

the vanman, ‘I nev

rence in this sentiment by pressing a

ve off in the direction of the nearest reliable public-house. Gideon closed the door on their departure, and turned to Julia; their eyes met; the most uncontrollable mirth s

er. ‘It is certainly Morris’s handwriting, and I had a letter from him only this morning

on aloud from the painted warning on the b

Mr Forsyth, don’t you think

d Gideon. ‘Just let

ade Gideon follow her. They found both the hammer and a chisel; but Gideon was surprised to see no sign of a servant. He also discovered that Miss

And suddenly, as though he had overheard these thoughts, Gideon turned and smiled to her. She, too, smiled and coloured; and the double change became her so prettily that Gideon forgot to turn away his eyes, and, swinging the hammer with a will, discharged a smash

ent she was back again with a basin of water and

any manners I should have opened the box first and smashed my hand

direct operations,’ said she. ‘Tell me

ention to the packing-case. The bulk of the work had been accomplished; and presently Julia had burst through the last barrier and disclosed a zone of straw. in a moment they were

very athletic pe

’ responded Gideon. ‘His muscl

eemed to be a third. This resolved itself, howe

but when it comes to Hercules, the police should interfere. I should say,’ he added, glancing with disaffection at the swol

,’ said Julia. ‘And for that matter, I think we

eon. ‘This has been one of the mo

it very soon,’ said Julia.

ideon reluctantly. ‘No,’ pleaded Julia. ‘

ay,’ said Gideon, looking at his hat, ‘o

girl. ‘Why, of course I do; and, besides, I want some cak

look at Miss Hazeltine, and another at the legs of He

t tempting of cakes and tartlets, and found Julia in

t I thought we should be more cosy and comfortable i

tter,’ cried Gid

the bag, ‘and the dearest little cherry tartlets,

y, ‘I knew they would mix beautifully; t

l, ‘I am going to show you Morris’s letter; read it a

and spreading it out on

, of which, I dare say, you have seen the account. Tomorrow I leave him here with John, and come up alone; but before that, you wi

in h

insb

nd leave the bar

t,’ and he nodded, as he spoke, at the marble legs. ‘Miss Hazel

as sent a statue of Hercules instead of a barrel containing specimens for a fri

f stone, but rather smaller than our friend the monument. Still

up before them to prepare the house, and get a

ne,’ said Gideon in amaze

would be; I am weaker, of course, but when I found I must sleep alone in the hous

’ demanded Gideon, much

then pointing it very low, for it springs up as you fire, you pull the under

have you used i

‘but I know how, and that makes me wonderfully courageous,

s strikes me as excessively unsafe; if it goes on much longer, I could p

at generosity! I begin to think it mus

, ‘I admire you too much to send

, when they were both startl

r For

irl,’ said Gideon, laying h

whispered. ‘They are coming

It was louder than bef

n a startled voice, and she r

of ordinary days, but a wild-looking fellow, pale and haggar

s eyes, as they fell upon the legs of Hercules, literally goggling in his head. ‘What is that?’ he scr

onded Julia coldly. ‘This is t

e miserable man. ‘I

lia; ‘we had nearly to pull the house down t

faint. Then his tongue was loosed, and he overwhelmed the girl with torrents of abuse. Such fire, such directness, such a choi

ine in that way,’ said Gideon stern

rned Morris, with a fresh outburst of anger

dressing the young girl, ‘you cannot stay a moment longer in the same house with this

t; I cannot stay here longer, and I am sure

arm, and the pair descended the steps, fol

ove smartly into John Street. It was hailed by both men, and as the c

ecklessly. ‘Waterloo Station for

’ said the man, with a grin;

at he would reconsider it at Waterloo. The man whipped up his