Dialstone Lane, Complete
d a couple of ferrets, returned home to breakfast. Contrary to custom, the small front room and the kitchen were both e
eyeing the herring disdainfully, "as would take it
, with a puzzled face, to a continuous squeaking overhead. It sounded like several pairs of new boots all squeaking a
or opened, and Mr. Vickers, with a slice of bread arrested half-way to his mouth, sat gazing in astonishment at Charles Vickers, clad for the first time in his life in new raiment from to
ckers, in a voice husky with
ttons than his own waistcoat, looked up and eyed him calmly. "
father, in a scandalized v
d his daugh
terest that he would have bestowed upon a wax-works. A certain stiffness of pose
arding them with moist eyes. "Soap and water they've always had
, hesitating for a moment at the head of the stairs, came slowly and ponderously down until Mrs. Vickers, looking somewhat nervous, stood revealed before her expectant husband. In scornful sur
Don't mind me. What, you-you
t the books in her han
manded Selina. "W
er amazed glance round
get the money
s daughter, reddeni
he money I toil and moil for-out of the money that ought to be spent on food. No wonder you're a
tooping down to ease one of Mrs. Vickers's boots. "You w
ear threes by rights," sai
h considerable impatience-"I s'pose there's a bran' new suit o' clothes, and
ckers. "You go upstairs and amuse yourself looking for'em.
is is what comes o' keeping quiet and trusting you-not but what I've 'ad my suspicions. My own kids taking the bread
han Miss Vickers was taking at this moment over her small company. Caps were set straight and sleeves pulled down. H
queaking pride, with Mrs. Vickers and Selina bringing up the rear. The children went by with little set, important faces; but Miss Vickers's little bows and pleased smile
the unnatural Mr. Vickers, as the
nity stirred within him, and leaning casually against the door-post he yawned and looked at the chimney-pots oppo
jerk of the thumb in the directio
ickers, with an air
left you a fortin?"
" replied Mr. Vicke
"Why, new clothes all over.
w clothes sometimes, I s'pose?" he said, slowly. "You wouldn't 'ave'em go
ly. "Why not?" said the o
s had drawn gradually near and now stood by listening expectantly. The idea
'ad so much as a chiney tea-pot left me. One thing is, I never could make up to people for the sake o
disliked," said another lady, s
iercely. "What d'ye mean? You don't know what you'r
o you," said the other, with a ready chang
ion deprived the stou
her opponent, following up her a
house, slammed the door behind her and continued the discussion from a first-floor window. Mint S
came his way, and then, going indoors, sat down amid the remains of
ardrobe. The sum soon becoming too large to work in his head, he had recourse to pencil and paper, and after five minutes' hard labour sat gazing at a total which made his b
ndered from Selina to Mr. Joseph Tasker, and almost imperceptibly the absurdities of which young men in love could be capable occurred to him. He remembered the extravagances of his own youth, and beth
brightened, and, knocking the ashes out of his
d, cheerfully, as he polished his face on a roller-towel, "I shall tell 'im he can'
lmost proof against insult, made his way to Dialstone Lane. In an unobtrusive fashion he glided r
lad?" he
Mr. Tasker, whose face w
der, and, stepping inside, closed it so
d," he said, benevolentl
ed Mr. Tasker. "Who told
ed at him in rep
y. "I don't want to do no interrupting of your work, Joseph, but I couldn't 'elp just stepp
anded Mr. Tasker, who was busy wipi
his head at him an
sed up like that; and when I thought of its all being owing to you, sit down at home in comfort with
mmon English you'd better get out. I don't want you 'ere at all as a matter o' fact, but to have
o buy new clothes for the young'uns?" he demanded, sharply. "Do you mean to tell me that Selina didn't ge
want to buy clothes for your young'uns for? That's your duty. And Selina, too; I haven't give
ion on Mr. Tasker's part. "I s'pose the fairies come and put'em on while they was asleep. B
s glued to a comfortable-looking barrel in the corner, filled it to the brim with fair water and handed
water," he sai
rink it ourselves, except in tea or c
his eye from the bar
hich Mr. Tasker was busy making up the fire-"I s'pose Sel
t," said the other, confronting him
a matter o' fact, I come round to you, interrupting of you in your work, and I'm sorry for
, who had opened the oven door and
r too much; on the other hand, to ask for less
' quid," he said, in a mysterious whi
ho was tenderly sucking the bulb of the therm
temper with difficulty. "A little thing like that wouldn't be much trouble to y
nd returning with a small joint knelt do
," repeated Mr. Vi
the other, who had
ing Mr. Vicke
e it is," asse
it like leeches. Now, suppose I was a young man keeping company with a gal and her father
er wanted-to borrow a couple of quid off o' you-what would you
led. "What should I do?" h
the other, opening the oven doo
ickers restrained himself. He breathed hard, and glancing out of window sou
mean to say is, without no round-aboutedness, will you lend a 'ard-workin
l one. It was merely a laugh designed to convey to the incens
n," said the latter ge
; "and if I 'ad, there's nine hundred and ninety-nine
creature with profound contempt. His features wor
d, Joseph?" he inquire
. Tasker. "If you want money, go and earn it, same as I have t
a dry, contemptuous l
u expect me to take you up and point you out as my son-in-law, cos I won't do it. If there's anything I can't abide it's stinginess. An
g to the front room opened and reveale
about, Joseph?" demande
ers which that gentleman declined to accept on any terms, he broke in and began to give
oseph?" he inquired, carelessly,
ied Mr. Tasker. "Where sh
rance of the map, followed by the sudden cessation of Mr. Chalk's visits, began to link themselves
ately, have you?" he inquire
astonishment. "And I dare say Mr. Vickers here saw a new pai
intervened w
? I think that the tale about the clothes is all right," he added, turning to Jose
captain, watching him closely, transferred his suspicions to a mor
king, sir," h
eadily. "Have we got any b
k, sir," said Mr.
t," said the captain. "Go
ignation got the better of