The Cruise of the Make-Believes

of the carriage and seized his bag. For there was no one with a familiar face in sight on the little platform; and G

asket. True, at the end of the platform was a young girl in a white dress, and with a slim and pretty figure; but young girls in white dresses were n

ands, and gazing at her-and that it was Bessie, half laughing and half crying, and saying again and again how glad she was to see him. And all in a moment the sun was s

road hid them from the sight of the station or of any houses beyond, she slipped her hand into his; and so held it, as a child might have done, while they walked on side by side. And then it was that the problem he had to face loomed large, and asked fierce questions of the man, and would not be denied.

life-and what you do-and how you spend your days. This is

at him with no seriousness at all, and h

g in a white frock who belongs naturally and properly to the count

ed at all; I find myself wondering sometimes exactly how one turned into it-and what the houses were like-and

o I suppose you are real

ndering if it's all true. I dread sometimes to open my eyes in the morning, for fear that I may open them in the old narrow room in the old narrow house in Arcadia Street; I'm frightened when they knock at my door in the morning, lest it should be Amelia come to say that the baker

he replied. "And so you st

g more used to it; he missed his club terribly at first. But now he is finding quite a lot to interest him; he

er?" asked Gilb

he's riding; even father admits that-and father never did like Aubrey. In fact, everythi

tle Make-Believe,

mustn't call me Little-Make-Believe any more-because it isn't tr

ged again. "Suppose this great fortune of yours was swept

ve that Fate would be so cruel as to send me back aga

ere very happy there-playi

hard to make myself happy-fought hard to reach every little gleam of sunshine that came m

ed upon him with astounding news. "Oh-I f

ed at her as though

fill it?' Father's thinking of asking some other people-friends of his particularly. Of course there'll be lots of room for you, Mr. Byfield," she a

admiration. He began to understand that the difficulties he had created were greater than he had yet imagined; already he seemed to see an imaginary Daniel Meggison-grinning and t

es, and a comfortable house, and money in his pocket, and servants to do his bidding, had already gone far to spoil the man, and to bring out some of the original bully that had been suppressed i

en them, and was acting his part accordingly. "Delighted to see you. I would have driven down myself to the station-but my child here seemed to think that you would expect her alone. Well-well-that is qu

silenced with a look, and retired, wondering more than ever; Gilbert allowed the girl to run on before him up the stairs, to show him the way with which he was

ith that gentleman. But Daniel was not to be caught napping; he avoided Gilbert on every occasion,

condition of state, ready to receive all and sundry. Her dignity in this particular instance compelled her to suffer tortures, for the simple reason that her husband, Mr. Edward Stocker, was free to come and go as he liked, and

rk about it. Having a little property myself-which runs to 'ouses-I may say that I know what property is, and how money is made. But Meggison seems to have gone a cut above us all. A mo

, sitting in state. She received him coldly, but with the resignation of one who expects that all sorts of peop

beg. One of my bro

stammered Gilbert. "A

accident here. I should like to know, sir"-she lowered her voice, and looked rou

to think about it at a

ve thought that he would have been only too glad to take me into his confidence. But, no-oh dear,

brother is now?" asked Gilbe

believe Daniel drives out a great deal. He might have aske

been in charge of the house for years. The man hesitated for a moment, with puzzled face, remembering his strange instructions as to the new tenants;

to speak to m

" responded the man in a low tone. "Also,

r until Mr. Meggison goes," said Gilbert,

and no questions asked; but I didn't quite understand it was to be champagne here, and champagne there-to say nothing of spirits in what I m

asily. "You were quite right to me

use the word, in regard to me and the other servants; also the yo

ert grimly. "That will do; and be careful to remember what I have said; I am

oked again at his master. Gilbert Byfield turned a lowering gloomy

that in any remarks it has been my duty to make concerning

looked at the man quickly. "Oh-so you don'

t any of us could have stood it. Oil on the waters more than once Miss Meggison's been-and always a smile if sh

mpensation-isn't it?" a

se the saying, it licks me how the young lady could ever 'ave had such a f

he waited, and saw for himself what was happening. He rightly judged that Meggison at least would be anxious to know what steps the

wait at least

had yet reached that sublime point insisted upon in the pictures in the illustrated papers of "dressing" for it, she yet had hopes even that that might some day be accomplished. As a matter of fact, Aubrey, the better to show his complete independence, had

not appeared, nor his son; the tale was complete otherwise. They straggled awkwardly across the hall, and into the big dining-room; and there the girl took one end of the table, and qu

ith a somewhat feverish air of patronage. He did not even look at Gilbert; but he glanced ro

ny things to see to in a place like this. My child"-this to Bessie down the

father," s

reat rate; paused to say over his spoon-"

king at him steadily. "Do yo

ed to me," replied Meggison critically-"but it'll serve-it'll serve. I cou

people from staring in at the windows, and a bit behind to put a few seeds in? Why, you could build four houses this size on the pla

ette drooping from his lips, but condescended to toss that into the fireplace; then seated himself, a

at the same moment," said Daniel Meggison crushingly. "In future, sir, you will clearly u

o you, dad," said Aubrey patiently. "And perhaps oth

the opportunity to turn to Bessie. "And what do you do with yourself

uickly. "So many people want me-and there are flowers to arrange-and orders to give-and

kick up a devil of a row at night," sna

lbert, taking no notice of the interr

r names?" she asked, with

ur father-Mr. Meggison told me all about them," he

fternoon," said Meggison hastily. "I foun

ft her softened. Her hair was differently and more generously arranged; there was a refinement and a delicacy about her, greater even than that which had at first singled her out in his eyes in Arcadia Street. And it was pleasant, too, sitting there, to have her eyes turned occasionally in his direction, and always to see in their depths that fine smile of comra

entered and spoke a little diffidently to Bessie, afte

in," she exclaimed; "how delightful that he should have c

him quite well

he's going to get out of us? . . . ah!-my dear Quarle-delighted to see you," he broke off hurriedly as Simon came into the room, looking sharply about him. "I was

nd shook hands with Bessie. "I'll find room here, thank you," he said, as he pulled up a chair beside the girl-"no one ne

the lines of his mouth. He knew in his own mind that something must be settled this night; felt certain that with this man in the house the bubble must be pricked, and poor Bessie be shown in a moment this new and horrible game of mak

ow you were coming,"

on as you have finished-all of you-you will go away and leave me with my young hostess," he added. "I've a

the house, Mr. Quarle," said Daniel

," said Simon Quarle, with a grim nod at

of skirts; followed obediently by her husband. Then Daniel-followed at a grumbling interval by his son. So that at the last Bessie sat between Simon Quarle and Gilbert Byfi

at last, rising from his place, and looking squar

ly and followed him. "I wonder what they're doing about my bag," he began; and then, as he thrust Gilbert into

-night," whispered Gilbert quickly

back into the room. "I'm glad you see th

to spare her,

rapidly to ask his candid opinion concerning the work of our parish councils, and whether he did not think they required new blood-as, for instance, new blood from London, in the shape of a man who had had experience of the vicissitudes of life, and who knew what re

e "As a matter of fact, too, I should like your advice on a little question of investmen

ease me better,"

friendly cigar, and have a dry business chat," said Meggison,

. Meggison closed the door, and went into the room; threw himself on to a couch, and looked up smilingly at the other man. His face was rather wh

do you want wit

hardly remind you of the facts; you were to come down here with your daugh

and that holiday?" asked Meggison, with a gr

u are flinging money broadcast-you and your dissolute son; I refer to this persistent fairy-tale that you have a great fortune, a

at you are dealing with me. If you wanted your absurd scheme carried out in any halting cheeseparing fashion, you should have gone to a meaner man; you should not have come to Daniel Meggison. I am a creature of imaginat

ke the matter into my own hands; I intend to let Bessie understand the true facts of th

her, for your dear sake, has lied to you, and cheated you, and made a fool of you. Egged on by a man with whom, under ordinary circumstances, he would have had nothing to do, your poor old father has tried to do something for you at last-to make y

g stands the girl who does not deserve to suffer. I must bring myself down, I suppose, to appeal to you," sai

iel Meggison. "I take my stand upon the happiness of my child;

d he now lounged forward, so as to put himself in a measure between the two men. "I don't always say that I uphold the old man, mind you," he added-"but on this occasion I think he has spoken as only a father and a man could speak. I suppose, Mr.

lplessly. "I quite understand that if only from motives of policy alone you wo

ss for the son-as Gilbert went out of the room. In the hall he stumbled upon S

you goin

the girl," said Gilbert; and with a new feeling that h

need for words. He had told himself, as he came out of the house, that he would have done this night with the mad business; he told himself now, as he saw her face in the light of the stars, that it must go on. And even while he said that the natural man sp

it seemed almost that this new Bessie of the bright eyes was a woman. Her dreams had come true; the friend who had told her that they might some day

re you very happ

ever been in all my

ends-in that poor old garden that was never a garden at all. I'm a very

and seemed insensibly, in the dusk o

tolen your way into my heart somehow. Bessie-if to-night I asked you to leave all this

eart is saying now," she wh

was warm and tender and flutter

I love you,"

t strange tangled knot he