Once Aboard the Lugger-- The History of George and his Mary

or Finds

In the little room at Angel Street she deposited a newly pu

t nine, she had seen the cat she now pursued

long-haired, soft-hatted, poetically bearded. Behind him had followed the cat. The cat had trotted across the road to the gardens; the tall man had

I

took up position against the railings in a dark patch that marked the middle point between two l

split by a thin rod of yellow light. Instantly this widened, served for a moment to silhouette a tall figure, then vanished as the door slammed. The tall figure stepped on

e railings to where the cat had tripped. Six feet inwards,

rails; stretched a snapping finger and thumb;

ughtfully to turn the soil. T

ooed Mrs. Major. "Tweet

Major moistened her finger and thumb; snap

the snapping fingers were

ssikins!" impl

; coiled its fine tail about its feet; re

e forefinger of her extended arm; at great peril of slipping forward and rasp

! Tweety, t

a blink did tweety

cramped; the railings bit her shoulder; her neck ached:

s a sharp sound advertised the splitting of a secret portion of her wear against the tremendous strain her unnatural position placed upon it. Unable longer to endure the pain of her outstretch

. For a moment it eyed the scratching fingers;

re's neck; dragged the surprised animal forward; rudely urged it through the railings; tucked

t. Along a main street, into a by-street, round a turning, across a square, up

I

to burst upon Mr. Marrapit with her prize-at once to put to desperate test whether or no he would accept it as the Rose. But before Paltley Hill was reached the masterly woman had modified this order. The

. Supposing he heard that a London cat, similar to the Rose in appearance, were missing, and remembered that this cat-of which from the first he had had doubts-was filched

, starting out from Herons' Hill to renew her search,

e copse off the Shipley Road, whither in the dear, dead days beyond recall she had stolen for Old Tommish purposes, was in every way safe and suitable. None visited there at

eding to Herons' Holt secured her cat in that inner room of the

d told her that Mr. Marrapit was

V

milk. That evening, Mary and Margaret being elsewhere tog

e sent young Mr. Wyvern and Mr. Brunger after my nephew George. The clue he claims to know is my last chance. I have no fai

give up hope, Mr. Marrapit. Something te

"You are always enc

night I dreamed that the Rose was found." The encouraging woman

s man in leaden grip. "I lose hope," he said. "Man is born u

Marrapit." She continued with a beautiful air of timidity: "Oh, Mr. Marrapit, I know I am only here on sufferance, but your careworn a

it," Mr. Marr

e chair to the table; rattled the dice. After a few moves,

actice," Mr. Ma

wing her dice. "Out of practice! But

does

gh that suggested mo

sat on. "Quite like old times," Mrs. Major murmured. "Good

times," Mr. Ma

ascended the stairs

e was upon the very threshold of winning into paradise, but not a tr

she had arranged to burst in upon Mr. Marrapit with the cat, checking again

she entere

pon the threshold. She listened; the sounds drew near. She closed the door; the sounds, now loud, approached the hut. She ran to