The Lighted Way

e, uncurtained window, from which it was possible to command a view of the street below. A book which she had apparently been reading had fallen neglected onto the floor.

sitive than her years. Occasionally she glanced around at the clock. Time d

The girl drew a sigh of inexpressible content, moved away from the window and faced the door, with lifted head waiting for the sound of footsteps upon the stairs. They arrived

aimed. "I hope you were car

eyes were fixed anxiously upon his fa

!" she insisted.

little ta

u know that

ed delig

foot touched the stairs. What is it, Arnold? The cheeses didn't smell

wonderful story. Listen. Have you ever

's she like, Arnold? Have you seen her? Did you s

an old trunk from underneath the faded cupboar

away. Old Weatherley was married only

interrupted, ruthlessly.

e with old Weather

led, a littl

t ever so much, dear. Yesterday I fancied that you were getting t

o-day I gorged myself on poache

"To-night I shall have a bowl of milk as soon as you are g

ong since I looked at my clothes that to tell you the truth I was a little bit

eatherley ask yo

I played bridge," Arnold answered. "It's rather a

ehave your very nicest. Tell

n a quarter of an hour. W

ou like," s

" he said. "We'll look down at the river an

ll naturally back upon his shoulder. Her eyes sought his. He was leaning forward, gazing down between the curvi

s ear, "there are no fairy s

smi

ne? You have only

he shook

he great things are here, Arnold. I can feel life hammering and throbbing in the air. We aren't in a garret any longer, dear. It's a fairy palace. Listen. Can

nding of a hurdy-gurdy below. Always she carried him away by her intense earnestness, the bewitching softness of her voice, even when it was galleons full of treasure that

ght means a change. There is something new

and pale. He laughe

mockingly, "I am going to dine

reamily. She refused

room with you. Don't you feel it? Can't you feel that you are going to

icker of passion flamed

t, do you think one could live? Do you think one could be content to struggle through this miser

nd her finger

e, there was a time when I hadn't yo

or one of those wonderful places. We'll leave Isaac to grub along and sow red fire in Hyde Park. We'l

ed his ha

!" she whisp

" he begged. "See the lights on the barges, how slowl

d his finger wit

ght, Arnold," she said. "The fancie

ise," h

hing-don't keep

e dinner, if there is one, and a photograph of Mrs. Cheesemonger

d. "Open the door and I c

r apartments at the top of the deserted house, which had once been a nobleman's residence. The doors were still heavy, thou

he pleaded. "I am all alone. Isaac

clothes, putting on a dress suit produced from the trunk. When he had finished, he stepped back and laughed softly to himself. His clothes were well cut. His studs, which had very many times been on the point of visiting the pawnbroker's, were correct and good. He was ind

r long arms were wound for a moment arou

o the storm-and I want to go! I want to go, too! My

e looked down into her convulsed face. She choked for a moment, and t

hat the twilight here has got upon my nerves. Light the lamp, pleas

e were no tears left in her eyes now. Her lips were tremulous, but an unusual spot of color was burning in her cheeks. W

good luck to you, Arnold! Eat a good d

more that I can do

d. "Besides, I can he

d with gray, he walked with a pronounced stoop. In his shabby clothes, fitting loosely upon his diminutive body, he should have been an insignificant figure, but somehow or other he

"You are just in time to save

speaker over from head to foot with an expressi

y's that?"

ghed good-

that belongs to the world on the other side, you know. We all of us have to look ove

the door by whi

tor for wearing the rags. As it is, I say that no one is welcomed under my

laughed

as I was born and made. You can't bl

from the girl behind reminded him of

said. "Look after Ruth

your sort came to the meeting of Jameson's moulders this afternoon. He had a question

He turned on the threshold and looked into the shadowy room

eight shillings a week in old Weatherley's counting-house as honestly as you earn your wage by thundering from Labor platforms and articles in the Clarion. My clothes are part of the

urning like stars. Her uncle had turned his back upon him. The word he muttered sounded like a malediction, bu