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