The Cruise of the Make-Believes

others into this new sea of deceit in which they must all struggle together, and from which only one hand-that of Mr. Gilbert Byfield-could drag them. In the calmer mood following upon a seve

if even that considerable sum of fifty pounds was to be wrung out

d the one or two others who paid when by chance they had any money, had special interviews with a radiant girl in a shabby black frock, who told them with shining eyes that she was sorry to get rid of them, and that the bills did not matter. Th

ke him understand that in one night his divinity had been removed far out of his reach. He did not understand in the least; he pleaded that he might have the new ad

; and this morning Bessie came upon him with a newspaper propped up against the cruet, and with a fork busily going over a breakfast that had been already cut up for great

uarle-if I might spea

ou're doing, you know,"

know when it would be suitab

at her; picked up the fork again, and resumed his

. "The house is going to be sold up-and all the

emanded, laying down his fork finally with a sigh,

table, and resting her chin on her folded hands, and smiling across at him. "Y

nce again you're

only getting rid of this place-and the lodgers-and you-because father

y?" The man burst into a laugh, and pick

ever imagined; he has speculated and made money, while we have all thought that he has merely

said Qua

k that I'm anxious to get rid of you; I'd like to keep you here for ever and ever; but of course I have to reme

r the last time, and pushed his plate awa

k one of the hands that was a little coarsened with work, and gently

hort frocks-shorter even than they are now-and I was

dn't, Mr. Quarle

ere was no woman in the world that was anything to me-and I had no chicks-no one who cared a button about me.

" she sa

t going to say anything about family matters, because I suppose after all a father's a father, no matter what color he is. O

I think none of us quite know what

oing when I've had a chance to inquire into the matter. Don't turn m

often as you like-to stay with us," she r

. Gilbert Byfield was having his bath; the landlady a little contemptuous concerning a man who found it necessary to wash all over every day. An impromptu peep over the wall at

ven an hour's notice; it was quite on the cards that this young man would do the same. Daniel Meggison began to wish that he had in some fashion got the thing reduced to writing; more than that, he began to doubt the a

istinct air of its being all wrong. "I have be

ed Quarle stolidly. "Always bett

. "Suffice it that this system of living is ceasing; suffice it that I no longer find it necessary to depen

ers you could have got rid of me years ago-always supposing, of course, that it suited me to go. Meantime, we'

h a wave of the hand. "A little bit in this-and a little bit i

ly. "Most remarkable. And so you sell up everything h

ented it-hired it for a

ing you don't want talked about; I shall find out presently what it is. You never were any good, you know-and you never will be. Don't wave your arms about, and

have done this; it is on her account alone that I propose burying myself in the country, and having what will

t the best and the worst, been a livelihood for them all. He had hoped that she would have been content to take her cue from him, and to march a little behind his stride; he was appalled, now that he came to look at the thing from a common-sense poi

as Byfield frowningly took him by the arm, and turned him round, and walked with him up the street. Without a word that young man conducted him to the door of that house in which he had taken

on-let me know what the

, so far as I'm concerned, there ain't any game; if I've bee

that this is to be merely a holiday for the girl; whatever innocent lie you tell must not go beyond th

ht, Mr. Byfield, sir, I was excited-exhilarated-perhaps a little unduly happy. Mine has been a hard life, and if I may be said to have looke

little sudden money to provide her with a holiday-but something in the nature

her; she will take the thing in the right spirit, and be grateful. I am a man of imagination, Mr. Byfield,

ppose it's all right," said Byfield slowl

ent I will be more than discreet. I was careless last night-reckless-un

to Fiddler's Green as soon as possible; I'll arrange that the house shall be ready, and that servants shall be there to look after you. There'

t the thought of the new importance that was to be his. "But if you will p

certain expenses to be paid. I suggest that you should be at Fiddler's Green for the next month or six

through him at the remembrance of what had already been done in regard to the house. "She wil

write a cheque for a certain sum to meet initial expenses. In the very act of writing it he looked up, and sp

ngly and very cheerfully-just as I might do something to help some p

Meggison sentimentally. "Had she been, of course, anything else I should never for an instant have consented

k, so that she may not in any way connect me with what is being done. You seem to have told your tale well-rather too well, if anything-and she believes you; when you come back here you will find me perhaps in this place again, quite in the ordinary way. So far as money is co

eks in which to explain to Bessie that I cannot go on beyond a certain time; she will unde

may in your daughter's eyes appear to be already familiar with it; and you will understand that to all intents and purposes you

eserve his secret, left his lodging, and went back into the more seemly world that knew him; while Daniel Meggison, knowing tha

shaken to its very foundations at finding that the Meggisons were leaving-that the Meggisons were arraying themselves in new clothing, that the Meggisons had turned their lodgers adrift, and that the Meggisons actually had money to spend. Arcadia Street heard rumours, and fl

ed matters, and went away congratulating himself on having got anything at all. Everyone suggested that the Meggisons might have behaved better, but that on the other hand they might have behaved worse. So that in the

er's Green. Aubrey Meggison, not desiring to be associated with so public a departure, had casually suggested that he would "turn up at the station"; Mr. Meggison had gone out hurriedly, with a promise to be back in a moment;

leaving only a narrow lane, down which Bessie must presently pass. The elders stood behind, and suggested with sighs what they would have done if by any chance Dame Fortune had swooped upon them. By all accounts, it seemed unanimously resolved t

ace a wilderness. Yet, as she stood in it for a moment, she seemed to see it as it had been, and as

have loved you as I shall never love any other place, however beautiful; because everything that was go

urally, as it seemed, told the man to stop at the corner-at the Arcadia Arms. Someone raised a feeble cheer; and one man, beating time

red surrounded by friends, with a new silk hat, that had been rubbed in places the wrong way, upon the back of his head, and a large cigar with the band upon it in a corner of his mouth, and a little uncertain as to what to do with his legs. He

about the Meggisons in general, and Mr. Daniel Meggison in particular. And quite late at night there were little knots o