The Cruise of the Make-Believes

eet. It had been a week spent practically between three points of a compass which represented Enid and her mother-the club-and his rooms. A fourth point, o

r in that matter, and was quite indifferent to anything that might be said concerning it. Tant groaned in spirit at the thought that after all Gilbert had returned to the ways of the world to w

ed the door, and went up. Lighting the gas in the shabby little place, he saw that everything was just as he had left it, and nodded slowly with satisfaction. While he was still looking about him, his landlady bustled in to give him welcome, and to ask if there was anything he re

bert saw before him the thick-set figure of the man Simon Quarle-that man who lived at the house next door, and who had once thrust himself so unwa

Quarle abruptly, as

lbert, not very graciously

hat purpose. At the time

bert stared at him i

go far when I left next door, and I found that they had a couple

t next door?" asked G

door left me," retorted Quarle. "You've been away,

were going-into the country. But that's

, sitting down and rubbing his hands slowly backwards and forwards on his kn

d yet with an uncomfortable feeling in his mind that he did understand after all. "Will y

n fact of it is that that arch tippler and shuffler, Daniel Meggison, has suddenly come into some money-or made some money-or stolen some money. He boasts that for the rest of his natural days he need not do any work (not that he has ever done any to my knowledge

Daniel Meggison had decided to play that great game of make-believe in the grand manner, being certain in his own mind that Gilbert Byfield would hesitate to stop him. The pretty fiction which Gilbert h

ison did not happen to mention to you w

teresting himself," replied Simon Quarle. "It struck me as somewhat peculiar that a man of that type should sud

e coldly; for he was not inclined to give his confidence to this

yfield," he went on, with a slyness that was ominous-"I'm sorry for you. Things have been ta

ing over the few letters that were on his table, and idly

ou declared to me that you wanted to

at then?" Gilbert glanced up a

matter of days of that time her father-penniless

ther quietly. "You'll excuse me?" He indicate

ely and picked up the envelope; let his eyes glance across it for a moment as he laid it carefully on the desk. Then he sat with

his heart softened. After all, the cost was nothing, as compared with this fine fruit; the game might go on for some time longer at least. She was a child, with the heart and mind of a child unspoiled; and

dry, hard voice of Simon Quarle.

, visibly annoyed. "How do

the writing," he replied. "The weekly bills used to be made out by her; I've go

at this other man could have a letter from her that brought a softening smile to his face, whilst he-that older friend Si

's very happy," sai

bout her de

lied the younger man, with a glance at the letter. "You will be interested also perhaps to learn

girl." He got up, and moved across the room, with his hands clasped behind his back; stopped wit

n he intended. "You'd better ask Meggison; he knows all about it. And

sorry, Mr. Byfield," he said, in a tone that was singularly gentle-"I'm sorry that you find it necessary to remind me that

please; let there be no misunderstanding about this. I have not meant to offend you in any

in, from some points of view. Talk to me of Meggison or his worthless son, and I don't care a snap of the fingers; tell me about this girl, and the old blood in me fires up as it might have done if it had ever been ordained that I should have a child of my own. That's foolish, I know-but for once it

," said Gil

beggarly underhand payment of pounds shillings and pence. That's nothing to you, and you can kee

room-white-faced. "What do you mean

every copper she drops into the hand of a beggar is so much of your money. Who is

obably know as well as I do that I am paying the small sum of money for this little whim-which pleases me and can do no harm to anyone else. Stop-don't interrupt me; I r

of it!" persisted Q

but I do you the justice to believe that you are honestly very fond of her, and that you would do a great dea

mind-apart from merely helping her; wha

knows she needed it badly. Our friend Megg

e, finds a rich man with a soft spot in his heart; it is a chance not to be missed. He proceeds to lie to everyone; to his daughter, who believes in him complete

ld take the girl down there for a few weeks; that they should then

as what you are going to do," said the other

well and very happy. I say to you-to the devil with your conventions and your laws-your prejudices and what not; this child is happy. I think you know in your heart that I shall do her no harm; in mercy let her remain where she is, for a little time at least, until

d the other stoutly.

nt, I tell you the thing must remain as it is. Meggison won't speak,

can't move-but I'll find a way to tell the truth without hurting her-or if I do hurt her a

e for what has happened-except that I ought to have known what kind of man Meggison was,

n I can prevent," was Simon Quarle'

id not quite see how he was to get out of it; on the other hand, the sheer audacity of it held his unwilling admiration even against his better judgment. At one moment he told himself that he must honestly and frankly declare what had happened, and must set himself right in the eyes of the girl; the

ack to his own ordinary mode of life, at least for a week or two; and so came again in touch with Mr. Jordan Tant and the rest. If he thought at all of what might be happening at Fiddler's Green, he steadfastly strove to banish the ma

general note of wistfulness in it that tugged at his heartstrings. Almost he determined to go down and see her; yet knew full well that he dared not do that, for the simple reason that

very next day, with the arrival of Mr. Simon Quarle, who came in quickly, and closed the door, and looked at Byfield w

e's first utterance, as he seated himself, and

dler's Gree

d riches," said Quarle, evidently in a great state of grim triumph. "I've seen them-t

?-how's Bessie?

"As pretty as a picture-and with a smile in her eyes for the first

thing to get excited about.

-when I see that ardent billiard-room enthusiast Aubrey Meggison cutting an absurd figure about the country lanes on a hired hack, and slapping his leg with

'll go down there at once; I've delayed too long. I give you my word I didn't th

, or get rid of them somehow, I'd cheerfully do it, if it would keep her in ignorance of the truth. One word, Byfield: you've got to be mighty careful, beca

rle. While the young man was busily fluttering the pages the door was opened, and Mr. Jordan Tant sauntered in, as immaculate-looking

e exclaimed. "I'm sure I'm very glad to see you. L

while Gilbert still fluttered the pages. At last Gilbert flung the book

you to Arcadia S

responded Mr. Tant. "Mrs. Ewart-Crane wanted a message conveyed to you, and I couldn't think of your number, a

ike Arcadia Street," said Gil

look as if he did," retorte

ssage is this. The old lady-(by which term, of course, I refer not at all discourteously to Mrs. Ewart-Cr

Gilbert absently.

you leave empty so much-down at Fiddler's

uestion," broke in Gilbert harshl

s quite set on it," urged Mr. T

t the house is full already," said S

ve lent the house to some friends of mine-for a time. Tell Mrs. Ewart-Crane

a thought occurred to him, he suggested quickly-"Perhaps

Simon Quarle maliciously. "These friends are down there as a sort

deal about it," replied

, with a grim laugh. "The sort of guests, young gentleman

anything more need be said, Mr. Quarle," he exclaimed. "If you'll excuse m

ere, and spoke with characteristic bluntness. "Sorry if I've hurt

Byfield had gruffly refused even to consider the suggestion that the house should be lent to her and her mother set the man's wits to work; the fact that another man who obviously lived in Arcadi

I can't let her have the house-and make

ting his head on one side, and looking at his friend with a smile.

etorted Gilbert. "I've simply lent the hou

the connection was certainly startling. "By the way, Gilbert, I noticed as I came into

pray what the devil do you think that's got to

lly-I never said-- Why, Gilbert-you don't mean to

had failed; that that impulsive generosity of which he had been guilty had been taken advantage of by those in whose hands he was practically powerless. The thought of that did n

th from that line you so often draw and so often talk about-what do you know of the world and the people who live in it? Can't a man stretch out the hand of friendship to a woman without your smug lips opening, and your smooth tongue beginning to bleat this and that and the other? Must you a

the habit of doing unconventional things, and I suppose you will do them until the end of the chapter; but I am not criticizing. It's very kind of you-very thoughtful-and all that sor

the girl can take care of herself, and I think, even if it came to the point where she

doesn't understand ye

mforts? You've no delicacy, Tant. No-I arranged better than that; ostensibly her father is the man wh

t, looking at the floor. "It

in due course to Mrs. Ewart-Crane and to Enid. Suffering himself to be questioned closely, he refused to speak il

e designing people have got hold of him, and that, to use a vulgar phrase, they will bleed him pretty heavily unless someone steps in. He's m

riend who, however wrong-headed he may be, is at least a gentleman. I shall most certainly step in, and shall understand once for all, if only for my own satisfaction, what these p

Enid. "If Gilbert likes to be so silly it's his affair, and

t shall go down and secure a place for us; if I don't have those people out

flashed down, addressed to Bessie; a telegram had flashed back eagerly in reply; and here

ver met anyone cut out of the living heart of life as she is; compare her with any woman you have ever seen. Be strong, man; cut th

time the train drew in at the platform at Fiddler's Green, and he