The Little Nugget

hey had assigned to Mrs Elmer Ford, late of New York, they might well have felt a little aggrieved. Philosophers among them would possibly have meditated on the limitations

dropped it, and, rising, resumed her patrol. The clock striking, she compared it with her watch, which she had consulted two minutes before. She opened the locket that hung by a gold chain from her neck, looked at its contents, and sighed. Finally, going quickly i

' she w

ly a very faulty and amateurish portrait of a singularly repellent little boy of about eleven, who stared out from the canvas with an expression half stolid, hal

back at her, the telephone bell rang. She ran to it eag

not the one she had expected. 'Oh, yes,' she said.

ich had left her face as the bell sounded, was back now.

ight-a thick-set, solemn young man. He winced as he caught sight of the picture,

was of the type which wastes no time o

t h

voice was

ough, yo

g of something else.

untry s

h the other day you wanted your little boy's portrai

ord Mountry. I pa

a slightly dogged look suggestive of one who 'turns no more his head, because he knows a frightful fiend doth

es,' h

pau

tle fellow-what

isn'

lthily resumed hi

e him a leg up if I could. They tell me he's a topping artist. Don't know much about it myself. You tol

se, I've not forgotte

Mou

ght over the idea of that trip on my yacht and decided it would bo

a swift glance

forward to

uldn't we kill two b

nd the portrait, don

y along-he'd love th

rough-

trip, and, since seeing Ogden's portrait, he had realized still more clearly that the scheme had draw-backs. But he badly wanted Stanborough to make one of the party. Whatever Ogden might be, there was no doubt that Billy Stanborough, that fellow of infinite jest, was the ideal companion for a voyage. It wou

d to see a swift cloud of distress pass over her face. He rapidly revie

t the portrait. There

nd the position of affairs,' she sai

E

ed. 'My little boy is not-Ogden

chool

nd I did not get on very well together, and a year ago we were di

cans! Always getting divorced and causing unpleasantness. How was a fellow to know? Why hadn't whoever it was who first introduced them-he couldn't remember who the dickens

It was all he c

Ford, between her teeth, 'ga

th embarrassment, gur

could hardly object to my having a portrait of my son painted at my own expense. Nor do I suppose that he will, when-if the matter is pu

t scheme on the head,' sa

ecessa

E

t is possible that Ogden may be with u

ble to bring him along

hopi

urgles, was too plain and straightforward a young m

verride the decision of the court.

something may

y not allowing plain facts to be ignored, his lordship was re

Ford's house in

m at the receiver with what appeared to Lord Mountry's startled gaze one bound. As she put the instr

e,' she said, and turned t

t think me impossibly rude if I turn you out.

hip rose

knocked his stick on to the floor with the same movement. Mrs Ford watched his bendings and gropings with growing imp

You'll let me know if your little boy will b

k you ever so m

od-

the door an

springing round-'Sta

ell him to wait? He's

rry to have to keep him waiting, and ask him if

came to Lo

him a drink

y must go. I know I'm rude. I don't know wha

place in which he was most emphatically not 'on'. A mother's meeting with her long-lost child, this is a sacred thing. This was quite clear to him, so, turning like a flash, he bounded thro

all, fat boy of about fourteen years of age, whose likeness to the portrait on the chair proclaimed his identity. He had escaped the colli

ountry

. The world was full of eyes-Mrs Ford's saying 'Go!' Ogden's saying 'Fool!' the portrait saying 'Idiot!' and, finally, the eyes of this wonderfully handsome girl,

ur pardon.'

re you're going,'

he girl. 'Won't you

iss Drassilis,'

d to his lordship larger, greyer, cooler, more amused, and more contemptuou

d. 'Give you my word.

et me know about the

jolly party. Good-

ssi

erty of addressing him too, and then, his heart apparently failing him, tu

is closed the d

she said. 'What was he say

elf from her fascina

de

e going to the south of Fra

delightf

in pensive note i

d idea!' s

gden in a swirl and rustle of expens

bo

into a scene of tense emotion. Ogden failed t

garette?'

He was more bulgy. It was sullen. He scowled. And, art having its limitations, particularly amateur art, the portrait gave no hint of his very repellent manner. He was an intensely sophis

omentarily chilled.

of-fact you are,

o the Ford millions with her usu

she said. 'You have no notio

rned to her

dear, I haven'

polated the

peating that ever since I got your telegram from Eastno

towards h

lated, before allowing himself to b

ng Lord Mountry that I hoped I might see my Ogden again soon, but I n

Cynthia. 'How did you get to know h

s been out of London for a long time,

s

den's portrait painted. But, bother Lord Mountry. How did we

ia ya

rily easy, as it tu

ed Mrs Ford, 'don't go a

all r

by me, an

ace beneath his breath. 'Say,

had been applied to Mrs Fo

rse you must have some

have them send

ine here,' s

lunch either! I w

ght you

both lun

it would be better if Ogden had h

talk scan

aid Mrs Ford. 'Very

yourself something sub

' said the son

door closed. Cynthia gazed at her

d it, dear,

ndid. You're a

said

s anothe

you say there was a little thing, a

ther pressing. In fact, it's taking up mo

of paper and gave a slight gasp. Then, comin

Cynthia. 'They were beginning to show

eque calmly and p

how you did it,

the first time, she seemed to enjoy perfect peace of mind. Her eyes half

very beginning,'

checke

at a quarter past twelve, and went straight up to the house-you've never seen the house, of course? It's quite charming-and told th

ured Mrs Ford. 'He

tuck like a limpet. I sent him to fetch Ogden's tutor. His name is Broster-Reggie

dear

drawings for a magazine of the int

lieved

itor particularly wanted me to sketch the staircase. They had told me about the staircase

ou go

I go

saw O

a moment-t

ho

think of him as Reggie

d, honest face. Wel

at it was time for l

tai

hims

ggie and I chat

opened, brown an

proper tutor for my b

Reggie,' said Cynthia. 'B

o

EAST. I chose the EAST because it happens to be nearest the railway station. I added that I supposed he sometimes took Ogden for a little walk in the grounds. He said yes, he di

not a proper tu

our boy's tutor n

appened

ile Reggie and Ogden came up. I said I hadn't been a

believ

a nice chat. He told me all about himself. He used to be very good

ouldn't sketch. Then what became

ford, and he wanted me to see a newspaper clipping of a Varsity match he had played in. I said I'd love to see it. He said it was in his suit-case in the house. So I promised to look afte

way to the telephone

ust leave here at once. He will have followed yo

ia sm

Reggie quite a long

no trains for hours

you s

de certain of tha

issed her

you really a

with a cry as the

re's nothing to be frightened about. I tell you Mr Broster can't possibly have got here in th

e back into Mr

of c

opened t

fondly. And a wiry little man with

rd,' he said. 'I have c