Dialstone Lane, Complete

ques which she owed to the enterprise, not to say officiousness, of Edward Tredgold. That they were in excellent taste

had put the key after using it last. It was not until she had twice made a fruitless tour of t

oment's hesitation she opened her door and

n before, and as she waited he crossed to the bureau, which stood open, and searched feverishly among the papers which littered it. Apparently dissatisfied wit

he said, in a

ed Prudence. "

t it in this end pigeon-hole the other night after sho

said Prudence, with

was going to," he said, eyei

at you had," per

I hadn't. I was just looking ahead a bit, that

cribed how you did it," she said, slowly. "You said tha

appy captain; "I've got a talent for desc

zed at him i

would have gone down on his knees for another sight of it. I don't like to seem disobliging to friends, and it seemed

t after all and forg

t irritable with her. "I've not burnt it," he said, sharp

taircase, but Miss Drewitt la

" she exclaimed. "You can't contradict yourself like that be

it," grumbled he

in consternation. "Good heavens! Suppose the

" said Prudence. "You haven't

d into vacancy and rumpling his grey hair until it st

s got it," h

d by it," said Miss Drewitt, w

go after the island," said the cap

t find it after al

n't," said the c

essly. Prudence, watching him with

ere alone this afternoon,

dward Tredgold. I expect the talk about it has leaked out and someb

ing to give up a theory so much to her liking. "You mark my words if his father

rd-and went upstairs again. The captain filled his pipe and, resuming his chai

rn out by the events of the evening and a conversation with Mr. Stob

everything by displaying all along a youthful impetuosity sadly out of place in one of his years and standing. The

t," said Mr. Tredgold, impatiently.

ean chucked away,"

ends had by no means exhausted the subject, sudden

of amazement highly gratifying to his powers as a narrator. Her strongly expressed

ve my own ears?" he sa

them all," said Selina. "He cou

the other, surpris

ch a silly thing to do," she said, at last. "No

sker c

il of it," said Miss Vic

h to me," said Jose

en you don't know them," s

on one morning; a gag of well-soaped flannel being applied with mechanical regularity each time that he strove to point out the unwashed condition of Martha and Charles. His turn came when the exultant couple, charged with having made themselves dirty in the short

e fourth she was herself again, and, having spent the day in hard

g with the smile of a person who has solved a difficult problem, but as she drew near the Horse and Groom, a hostelry of re

ative pipe; the side-door itself had just closed behind a tall man

is how you go on the momen

demanded Mr. Vic

"standing outside and sending Bill Russel

that he had caught sight of Mr. Russell for the first time th

die-" he beg

tinued Selina, regardin

n," muttered Mr. Vickers

y for yourself?" demande

"I s'pose I can stand where I

idn't send Bill in to get you

rs, with great indignation. "I

if 'e did," said Mr.

is it, then?

e; how should I know?

mine," said

n," commanded Mis

raised the mug obediently to his sensitive lips. Always a kind-hearted man, he was glad when the gradual ti

the girl, as he turned a triumphant glance on Mr. V

f home," she said to her father; "I'll

er his breath, and then, with a fo

if she were their daughter, watched him out of sight and resumed her walk. She turned once or twice as though to make sure tha

lmost mechanically in that direction, and then nearly dropped his spade as he made out a girl's head surmounted by a large hat. The light was getting dim, but the hat had an odd ap

ome very damp, bent to his work with renewed vigour. It is an old idea that whistling aids manual labour; Mr. Chalk, moi

rden became piercing in its endeavour to attract attention, and, what was worse, deve

rved, cheerfully and loudly, as he thrust his spade int

oots, made for the door near the kitchen. As he passed the drawing-r

ear," said

whistling for you," said hi

surprise as a man could assume in face o

can't hear it?" demanded h

d. "I thought it was a bird," he s

Mrs. Chalk. "Look down ther

d uttered a little

said, at last; "but why doesn't she go round to the s

elf up and eyed him

ed. "Certainly not," said Mr. Chalk, br

y n

at she said, and when I told you you

wn?" said his wife, in a

lk, firmly. "Why don

d lips, and then he began to breathe more freely as the whistle ceased and the head suddenly disappeared. Still a little nervous, he watched his wife to the en

said, wit

eyes to her face despite his will. For a few seconds she gazed at him in si