The Gay Adventure

to his wife, as he was smoking after dinne

forty-five-six years younger

what there is to discuss. It is not yet July and we

ay in July this year?" he su

shoul

t would be

in. "August is the hottest month, and August in London would be unbearable. Besides, change for th

ouldn't we? Cromer is a charming place-charming; but we

a moment's thought. "And mother would be disappointed

to "Oh ... ah ... yes ... of course." Then he got up, walked to the window

t," said Alicia reprovingly.

" said Robert submi

who gives an order. "You've done nothing but smoke s

feel like

ere is your

feel like

n you haven't got a definite task. Until you retired from the business you were always perfectly happy.

esigned expression, mutely held up his hands. The wool was placed over them, and then, after strict injunctions

to renew her acquaintance more often than he was obliged. "Obliged...." The word buzzed unpleasantly in the brain. His prophetic instinct told him that he would be obliged to yield to Alicia's wishes. If he ventured to suggest once more that Eastbourne or Brighton might be preferable to Cromer, he knew too well what would happen. Alicia would say firmly, "No, Robert; you know We settled on Cromer, and it would be silly to change Our minds now." Supposing he dared greatly and put his foo

being tangled," said Alicia's voice

dear," he said appeasingly. "I

When she finished she said, "I am going out to take

erfully, and a few minutes late

a free agent he began to whistle again, a trifle mournfully, for he was meditating on life. This, f

he used to wish he was a partner or had more prospects, still he had been contented. Then at the age of fifty an uncle had died and left him a handsome competence. Alicia at once had made him forswear the office and set up as a gentleman of leisure. Not that he had been unwilling to obey. At first he had welcomed the relief from thraldom. It was a luxury to be

ll, recognizing the need of some occupation, he tried to do a little gardening. The strip of land at the back of the house was small, being some thirty yards long by twenty broad. Two-thirds of this was grass, which he mowed conscientiously once a week: the rest was given up to flowers. As Robert knew nothing of flowers,

t, to use the vicar's words, "a keen churchman," being on the whole an optimistic pragmatist rather than a devotee of dogma. But he was a good man, cheerful, kindly, with some harmless vanities. He liked, for example, to take the alms-bag round and lead the procession of collectors. H

defeat by Alicia rankled, and he turned over in his mind schemes by which he could outwit her and procure a holiday in Brighton. "It's all very well," he grumbled

was in an aggressive good-humor, commented on his dulness. Robert replied in a tone that she characterize

lf the day, and the other half doing what he doesn't like? Nothing ever happens here-it's like being a fly

y: she knew the treatment for the case. "Instead of grumbling like a

into a perspiration at the mere thought. Instead, he had the grace to be astonished at his mood and weakly answered, "I think I shall, my dear." As he ope

t one. Then he awoke quite suddenly, with a dim idea that something was happening. He sat up in bed, rubbed his eyes, and listened: no, there seemed to be nothing ... everything was still: only

es. "Good lord!" he thought, "it must be a burglar!" His first instinct was to lie down and draw the clothes over his head; his second, to jab his wife sharply in the ribs: company in the imminent peril was his prime necessity. B

he listened with strained ears. For a moment there was silence; then came the quiet but distinct opening of a doo

f a vacant life and his thirst for adventures-Robert tiptoed cautiously to the dressing-table. Here he made a swift and partial toilet. He slipped on a pair of trousers, a coat and some boots-for in the midst of his apprehensions he had a foolish idea that the burglar might

s thought a burglar might come, and deep in his composition lay a vein of adventure. It was fine to have a pistol-a loaded pistol-even though never used. It gave a sense of

ter of the situation. Quietly he crept down-stairs, as close to the wall as possible to prevent creaking. At the foot of the stairs he stood still and listened.... There was no sound. But