The House of Cobwebs and Other Stories

agree to such a proposal. But, to speak honestly, my health has suffered a good deal from overwork, and I must take into consideratio

ed the listener. 'Why, y

o say, you look

ued in the same tone of genial confidence. Let us consider the matter in

his wishes regarding a place of residence, he declared that he was ready to liv

pham, 'if, say, two or three years had

rs I would go through with it. When I make up my mind about a

id of asking too much. Almost in spite of himself, he at length spoke. 'Suppos

tenance expressed such contentment, that it was p

in his mind. 'I alway

*

l. The overworked corresponding tutor was taking his ease at the seaside on the strength of a quarter's salary in advance, which Mr. Wigmore, tremulously anxious to clinch their bargain, had insisted on pa

essing my gratitude. Be assured, however, that the name

relying upon the friendship between them, and his pupil's exultation in the progress achieved, the tutor unbosomed himself.

on, 'how was it the man never wrot

to come from a brother of yours in which I said you were very ill and must cease your correspondence. St

ever, this too was laughed away, and the purs

l an accident it had depended. Had Starkey been at home when the fruiter

y years by a mere swindler. Whereas he is really being educated, and, for all I k

R IN MA

ust he might reasonably expect to be undisturbed. But behold, there entered a bore, a long-faced man with a yellow waistcoat, much dreaded by all

Harvey parried with as much resolut

d is dying?' fell casually

yi

bout him. Yes, the great Dr. Shergold lay dying; there were bulletins i

cease?' inquired the bore.

poss

it reminded one of Coleridge, or Macaulay,-that kind of thing. Certainly most brilliant talk. I can't remember what it was all abou

own each other

one in for medicine-walking one of

e's at

nt to glance at the Times. He read the news concerning the great ph

over indeterminate odours of dampness. There was great concourse of drays and waggons; wheels and the clang of giant hoofs made roaring echo, and above thundered the trains. The vaults, barely illumined with gas-jets, seemed of infinite extent; dim figures moved near and far, amid huge barrels, cases, packages; in rooms partitioned off by glass framework men sat writing. A curve in the tunnel made it appear much longer than it really was; till midway nothing could be seen ahead but deepening da

rs the name of Maze Pond. It consists for the most part of homely, flat-fronted dwellings, whe

, rather pert-looking gir

sir,' she said at once,

ry soon. Will you

ink I

tairs, and entered a sitting-room on t

dly and with an air. 'Mr. Shergold was late this mornin'; he didn't get up till

chance of finding him, o

e said to me as he was only goin' to get a breath of a

lked of go

harply, and examined the speaker's face. 'O

ad, and her features had the trivial prettiness so commonly seen in London girls of the lower orders,-the kind of prettiness which ultimately loses itself in fat and chronic perspiration. Her complexion al

to this kind of colloquy; when the girl took herself off, he drew a breath of satisf

great many marginal notes in pencil, and an examination of these showed him that Shergold must have gone carefully through the book with an eye to the correction of its style; adjectives were deleted and inserted, words of common usage

led, as on recognising his friend, they expressed a wonderful innocence and suavity of nature; overshadowed, in thoughtful or troubled mood, by his heavy eyebrows, they became deeply pathetic. His nose was short and flat, yet somehow not ignoble; his full lips, bare

g with the volume in his hand. 'Is this how you

eddened an

,' pursued the other, laughing.

dn't really mean it as a criticism,' the deep, m

is kind of thing that c

and and

tory fellow, and Musset such a vapourish you

f.' He thrust the book into his coat-pocket. 'I came

ourse

you see

ndered vaguely. 'Oh, to talk

part fr

him. Unfortunately he didn't know any one, but the nurse

etter walk in that dir

u know, I hate to have it suppos

he sam

ing a talk with Dr. Salmon. He discourages me a good deal. Yo

By the bye, I hear that you have been in the world

yes-wh

rgold seemed unable to fix his thoughts on anything; he shuf

s a symptom of health. Go everywhere; see everybody-t

e brought up Whistler, and etching, and so on, and I had a few ideas of which I wanted to relieve my mind. And, after all, there's a pleasu

her, th

s meet, nowadays! Of course the world never saw their like. I have my idea of Aspasia-but there are lots of grander women in London to-day. One ought to live among the rich. What a wretc

'didn't I say something to this eff

lied, waving his hand in agitatio

Munden, rising. 'Let us go

nt to wash my hands-I've b

's daughter: she drew back, but, as Shergold allowed his companio

want tea, M

not look at her, but he delayed for a moment and appeared t

back till late in the eveni

at,' Munden observed, wi

e me very comfortable. All the same, I shan

fice, and he began to write poetry-some of which was published and duly left unpaid for. A year later there came one fateful day when he announced to his friend Harvey Munden that he was going to be married. His chosen bride was the daughter of a journeyman tailor-a tall, pale, unhealthy girl of eighteen, whose acquaintance he had made at a tobacconist's shop, where she served. He was going to marry her on principle-principle informed with callow pas

d to appear at the police-court. His relative, the distinguished doctor, who had hitherto done nothing for him, now came forward with counsel and assistance. Happily the on

uncle's money, and her wiles ultimately overcame Shergold's resistance. He, now studying law at the doctor's expense, found himself once more abandoned, and r

creaming herself speechless in fury at Shergold's refusal to go with her to a m

, especially to women, and his remarkable gifts were recognised as soon as circumstances began to give him fair play. All modern things were of interest to him, and his knowledge, acquired with astonishing facility, formed the fund of talk which had singular charm alike for those who did and those who did not understand it. Undeniably shy, he yet, when warmed to a subject, spoke with nerve and confidence. In days of jabber, more or less impolite, this appearance of an articulate mortal, with soft manners and totally unaffected, could not but excite curiosi

, with a house full of friends about her down in Hampshire, did not forget her pro

ession. This paragraph caught the eye of Harvey Munden, who sent a line to his friend, to ask if it was true. In reply he received a mere postcard: 'Yes. Will see you before long.' But Harvey wanted to be off to Como,

in?' he aske

out this answer. The girl stood forward, as if t

he like

He didn't say w

The girl turned and said sharply, 'All right,

e a note,' said Munden, in

the room, he saw that she had followed. He went up to a side-table, on which lay a blotting-

it?' he inquired, lookin

, it

d let's have a talk. Your mother wo

tossed

her.' She closed the door, but did not la

u opened the door to me. I've always liked your nice, respectful way of speaki

oment; her attitude betokened the utmo

t me out, tha

ery respectfully. Perhaps'-he paused-'

ps he

vexed at los

p curl and th

wrong

what i

ough he would advance a fam

d, with an insolent nod.

d? Why? What has

ood

me, Emma! I neve

ep your impudence to yourself. If you want to k

stood as if transfixed, but he recovered

eg your pardon. You won't make

rl's misgiving. She gr

nds how yo

. But promise, now; no

promise, and stood ra

land to-morrow for a holiday. I should like to see him, of course, and I may possibly look round this evening. If I can't m

of prudery, 'Before

r now, but I'll do my best to look in this

laughed back; and t

e length of Maze Pond and had ascertained that his friend's window as yet showed no light; Shergold was probably still from home. In the afternoon he had made inquiry at the hous

on Bridge a well-known figure, walking slowly, head bent. Munden mov

way.' He turned from Maze Pond. 'I got your message up yonder

d Harvey, trying to read his f

replied, in a low, shaken voice. 'I'm told there are big

s the f

ida

you live in t

I haven't thou

Munden, 'and I have a proposal to make. If I wa

ow of the vaulted way beneath London Bridge Station. At this hour the great tunnel was quiet, save when a train roared above; the warehouses

wanted here?

.' There was agita

ou will

ld spoke with unnecessary

ter with you?'

o somewhere-I can't help reproaching myself; I ought to feel or show a

hing else on

looked up

u mean? Why

he black shadow of an in

or a moment, Munde

girl. She was cheeky, and her behaviour puzzled me. Finally she made an incr

ly, with an attempt at laughter. 'Do you thin

ggered me. But what I want to

he might make a scandal, I suppose; or threa

round for a scandal

ghtest, as y

uble. I see the thing doesn't astonish you very

inferno; how I hate it! Have you had dinner? I don't want any. Let us

nished room, the walls hidden with books and prints, and there they sat down to smoke, a bottle of whisky within easy reach of both. It was plain to Harvey that some mystery lay in his friend's reserve on the subject of the girl E

been too much for yo

inful embarrassment in his featur

ave lied. I did ask t

he

t ni

hy

I was insane.' They

d upon you?' Mun

xcept this franti

h she inve

has never behaved loosely, or even like a schemer. I doubt whethe

ing his arms in helpless protestation.

the common-sense to treat it as if it had never been; and really I am te

all, isn't it very much the same with men in general? The average man-how does he come to marry? Do you think he deliberately selects? Does he fall in love, in the strict sense of the phrase, with that one particular girl? No; it comes about by chance-by the drifting force of circumstances. Not one man in ten thousand, when he thinks of marriage, waits for the ideal wife-for the woman who makes capture of his soul or even of his senses. Men marry without passion. Most of us have a very small circle for choice; the hazard of everyday life throws us into contact with this girl or that, and presently we begin to feel either that we have compromised ourselves, or that we might as well save trouble and settle down as soon as possible, and the girl at hand will do as well as another. More often than not it is the girl who decides for us. In more than half the marriag

frightful experience in marriage-after recovering his freedom-after finding himself welcomed by congenial socie

e talked-half an hour at a time. The mother, doubtless, looked on with approval; Emma had to find a husband, and why not me as well as another? They knew I was a soft creature-that I never made a row about anything-was grateful for anything that looked like kindness-and so on. Just the kind of man to be captured. But no-I don't want to make out that I am their victim; that's a feeble excuse, and a worthless one. The average man would either ha

lour. It lasted a couple of hours; we were still talking when the mother came back. I didn't persuade myself that I cared for Emma, even then. Her vulgarisms of speech and feeling jarred upon me. But she was feminine; she spoke and looked gently, with sympathy. I enjoyed that evening-and you must bear in mind what I have told you before, that I stand in awe of refined women. I am their eq

tgrow that,'

tured like a soul that beholds its salvation lost by a moment's weakness of the flesh. You can imagine what my suffering has been; it drove me

But you haven't told me yet how the dizzy culmination of you

f fortune has made me a little light-headed; I have been going about with a sense of exaltation which has prompted me to endless follies. I have felt a desire t

den, laughing, 'with giving a prom

ommon-sense and that awful sentimentality which is my curse. When Emma came up again after supper, she mentioned that her mother was gone with a friend to a theatre. "Why don't you go?" I said. "Oh, I don't go anywhere." "But after all," I urg

I didn't, and the girl knew I didn't. And she looked at me-and then-why, mere brute instinct did the rest-no, not mere instinct, for it was complicated with

morbid psyc

nd afterwards I was still happy. I walked up and down my bedroom, making plans for the future-for her education, a

a while, then l

ame of the street in which you have bee

all go to an hotel for to-night, an

rday-or on Friday evenin

lan

at Shergold rejoi

rl. You see, by running away I make confession that there's somethi

solicitor exercise his own

rag me into court-make a public ridicule of me? If so, there'

t your solicitor will pr

methods,' Mund

. It said that he would be kept away by business for a day or two. On Friday he attended his

e and hopefulness. That he did but feign, Harvey Munden felt assured; signs of a troubled conscience, or at all events o

s five thousand pounds,-it's no good. He says her lawyer has evidently encouraged her to hope for enormous damages, and then she'll have the satisfa

ack in the shadow of the pergo

r ad

a man born to be fooled? Wh

old w

rget that it's

wn fault you didn't die o

raise th

and. I suppose a jury would gi

candal-the

only thing that would teach y

ng at it. I half believe

rvous movements, as though in silent remonstrance with himself. And when the next morning came, and Harvey Munden rang the bell for his coffee, a waiter brought him a note addressed in Shergold's hand. 'I have started for L

informed him very briefly that the writer was 'about to be married,' and that in less than a week he would have

was accosted at the clu

iend Shergo

know noth

He died a few days ago, at Calcutta. Dysentery, or somet

T OF TH

manity. Through white autumnal mist yellow sunbeams flitted from shore to shore. The dome, t

yesterday, regardless of gleam or gloom. Many had walked such a distance that they plodded wearily, looking neither to right nor left. The more vigorous strode briskly on, elbowing their way, or nimbly skipping into the road to gain advance; yet these also had a

the privilege of spending more than they could afford on house and clothing; with rare exceptions they had no hope, no chance, of reaching independence; enough if they upheld the threadbare standard of respectability, and bequeathed it to their childr

se beyond the daily walk to and from his desk; the casual glance could see nothing in his features but patient dullness tending to good humour. He might be thirty, he might be forty-impossible to decide. Yet when a ray of sunshine fell upon him, and he lifted his eyes to the eastward promise,

n some calling for which Thomas was exactly suited, but he did not know of it; in the office he proved himself a trustworthy machine, with no opportunity of becoming anything else. His parents were dead, his kindred scattered, he lived, as for several years past, in lodgings. But it never occurred to him to think of his lot as mournful. A man of sociable instincts, he had many acquaintances, some of whom he che

ertainly it needed renewal, but Thomas could not decide at which end to begin, head or feet. His position in a leading house demanded a good hat, the bad weather called for new boots. Living economically as he did, it should have been a

the money in his trousers' pocket, and all but decided to make some acquisition

m; pleasant for t

like a substantial merchant, and spoke with rather pompous geniality. Thrusting his arm through the clerk's, he w

?' he asked, gl

red the other, whose tone to his

no; one sovereign only. Let me make a note of it by the light of this shop-window. Really, the total is getting quite considerable. Tut, tut! You shall have a cheque

rd, changing his mind about the tram, walked all the way home, and with ben

bly the creditor experienced more discomfort of that kind. At the first playful demand Thomas felt a shock. He had known the Warbecks since he was a lad, had always respected them as somewhat his social superiors, and, as time went on, had recognised that the difference of position grew wider: he remaining stationary, while his friends progressed to a larger way of living. But they w

te about his purchases, a middle-aged woman met him with friendl

. I know you'll be anxious to hear

me weeks in St. Thomas's Hospital. Mrs. Pritchard, a gadabout infected with philanthropy, was fon

she'll ever get the right use of her limbs again. But what we have to think of now is to get her some decent clothing. The poor thing has positively noth

d smiled unct

altered Thomas, reddening at th

ld never expect-it's only that every li

o his pocket and brought

rsed with ef

but Thomas Bird had no such misgiving. He talked with kindly interest of t

enough of life to respect her for this remarkable honesty; she was simply an ailing, lachrymose slut, incapable of effort. Her son, a lad who had failed in several employments from sheer feebleness of mind and body, practically owed his subsistence to Thomas Bird, whose good offices had at le

y, now, where did I-? Oh, 'ere it is. You'll be glad to 'ear as Sam d

from Mrs. Warbeck, Thomas stood patiently until the flo

hilling when he'd done his first shave? If I didn

ur' of looking in before ten to-night? No explanation of this unusually worded request; and Thomas fell at once into a tremor of anxiety. With a hurried glance at his

was then that Thomas Bird became her bondman, as he had ever since remained. There was also a letter, the only one that he had ever received from her-'Dear Mr. Bird,-Mamma says will you buy her some more of those jewjewbs at the s

r of a dubiously active commission-agent, and must deem it good fortune if she married a man with three or four hundred a year; but Thomas Bird had no more than his twelve pounds a month, and did not venture to call himself a gentleman. In Alma he found the essentials of true ladyhood-perhaps with reason; he had never heard her say an ill-natured thing, nor seen upon her face a look which pained his acu

verence to Thomas Bird. A servant whom he did not recognise-servants came and went at the Warbecks'-admitted him to the drawing-room, which was vacant; there

ely smile, and unadorned speech, she counteracted in some measure the effect, upon a critical observer, of the pretentious ugliness with which she was surrounded. Thomas thought h

going to talk to you just like the old friends we are. You see? No nonsense; no beating about the bush. You'd rather have it so, wouldn't you?' Scarce able to articulate, the visitor

covering that money would not be the subject of

'We don't want it talked about, but I know you can hold your tongue. Well, it's young Mr. Fisher, of Nokes, Fisher and Co. We haven't known him long, but

able business man, and son of a worthy fath

friendly if you can't speak your mind, when speak you must? It comes to this: I just want to ask you quite straightforward, not to be offended or take it ill if we don't ask you to come here till this business

mble as ever-never humbler than when beneath this roof-he was ready to avow himself Mr. Fisher's inferior; but with al

all very well for you and me to be comfortable together, and laugh and talk about all sorts of things, but with one like Alma in the 'ouse, and the friends she's making and the company that's likely to come here-now you do see what I mean, don't you, now? And you

. 'I didn't think they'd come back so soon; they've b

ated. A gesture of entreaty sent her from the room. As the door opened Alma was heard laughing merrily; then came silence.

he had not noticeably changed; his life kept its wonted tenor. The florid-nosed gentleman at length came face to face with him on Ludgate Hill in

out you; you keep it all to yourself; I honour you for it, my dear boy. And perhaps I had better tell you, Alma is to be married in January. After that, same as before, won't it be?-Have a glass of wine w

ered Mr. Warbeck made bold to borrow ten shillings, wi

surance that Mrs. Warbeck had kept

not utterly dishon

ing-breakfast, and Thomas knew it. For an hour or two in the afternoon he sat patiently under his landlady's talk, but a fit of nervous exasperation at length drove him forth, and he did not return till supper-time. Just as he sat down to a basin of gruel

. The wife received him with tears. After eight weeks without earning a penny, her husband had obtained the job of addressing five hundred envelopes, to be done at home an

e got him more work, and now, of course, he's lost the chance

n, to escape thanks, he shouted out, 'Where's these blessed envelopes, and where's the addresses

an hour, he addressed all but half the five hundred envelopes. Then

er to-morrow,' said the misera

f for his weakness during the day. He blamed himself often enough fo

G AND

interest at three and a half per cent.; another third is in Government stock, and produces two and three-qua

m decently clad and to support him during the holidays. He had been a master here for seven years, and earnestly hoped that his services might be retained for at least seven more; there was very little chance of his ever obtaining a better position, and the thought of being cast adrift, of having to betake himself to the school agencies and enter upon new engagements, gave Mr. Ruddiman a very unpleasant sensation. In his time he had gone through hardships such as naturally befall a teacher without diplomas and possessed of no remarkable gifts; that he had never broken down in health was the result of an admirable constitution and of much native cheerfulness. Only at such an establishment as Longmeadows-an old-fashioned commercial 'academy,' recommended to parents by the healthiness of its rural situation-could he have hoped to hold his ground against modern educational tendencies, which aim at obliterating Mr. Ruddiman a

rhaps of nothing at all; but he liked the sunshine and country quiet, and the sense of momentary independence. Every one would have known him for what he was. His dress, his gait, his countenance, declared the under-master. Mr. Ruddiman never carried a walking-stick; that would have seemed to him to be arrogating a social position to which he had no claim. Generally he held his hands together

ist the suggestion of the ivy-shadowed porch which admitted to the quaint parlour. So long was it since the swinging sign had been painted that neither of Pig nor of Whistle was any trace now discoverable; but over the porch one read clearly enough the landlord's name: William Fouracres. Only three years ago had Mr. Fouracres established himself here; R

int of exchanging reminiscences as to the weather, discussing the agricultural prospects of the county, and remarking on the advantage to rural innkeepers of the fashion of bicycling. In the third year they were quite intimate; so intimate, indeed, that when Mr. Fouracres chanced to be absent they spoke of his remarkable history. For the landlord

within, as usual, found Miss Fouracres, who sat behind the bar sewing. Miss Fouracres wore a long white apron, which protected her dress from neck to feet, and gave her an appearance of great neatness and coolness. She had

' said the under-master, a

e which had a peculiar note of honesty. Miss Four

e crops. I'll take a gin

is, sir. Ginger

uracres had resumed her sewing, though not her seat. M

uracres?' he a

the subdued reply, 'that he

or whom this mysterious answer had distre

I don't mean here, sir, to the Pig and Whistle, but to Woodbury Manor. Father saw it in the newspaper, and since then he

hinking of staying in this part of the country through the holidays'-long ago he had made known his position-'and

'We have two bedrooms, you know, and I've no dou

on it to him. Is he

shouldn't wonder if it did him

tic chair under an apple-tree; beside him was a little table, on which stood a bottle of whisky and a glass. Approaching, Mr. Ruddiman saw reason to suspect that the landlord had partaken too freely of the refreshment ready to his hand. Mr. F

es,' the under-master went

andlord severely. 'And what else do yo

d the other, as good-humouredly as pos

as a good deal hotter da

a good deal hotter. The

m speaking of His Royal

understand

perfe

's no use you or any one else trying to make out that he didn't say that. I tell you he did! "Very sea

that he sank together in his chair and lost all power of coherent speech. In a moment he seemed to be sleeping. Having watched

other day, was his remark to the landlord's

oman. 'I'm sorry to say he's

an instant. Mr. Ruddiman lo

uracres,' he said. 'You might just

, sir. I w

day that two gentlemen on horseback, evidently riding for their pleasure, stopped at the inn door, and, after a few inquiries, announced that they would alight and have lunch. Mr. Fouracres-who himself received these gentlemen-regarded one of them with much curiosity, and presently came to the startling conclusion that he was about to entertain no less a person than the Heir Apparent. He knew that the Prince was then staying at a great house some ten miles away, and there could be no doubt that one of his guests had a strong resemblance to the familiar portraits of His Royal Highness. In his excitement at the supposed discovery, Mr. Fouracres at once communicated it to those about him, and in a very few minutes half the town had heard the news. Of course th

quarrelled violently with many of his best friends; he brought insulting accusations against all manner of persons. Before long the man was honestly convinced that there existed a conspiracy to rob him of a distinction that was his due. Political animus had, perhaps, something to do with it, for the Liberal newspaper (Mr. Fouracres was a stout Conservative) made more than one malicious joke on the subject. A few townsmen stood by the landlord's side and used their ingenuity in discovering plausible reas

be renewed. Whereupon what should Mr. Fouracres do but purchase land and begin to build for himself an hotel twice as large as that he must shortly quit. On this venture he used all, and more than all, his means, and, as every one had prophesied, he was soon a ruined man. In less than three years from the fatal day he turned his back upon the town where he had known respect and prosperity, and w

othing of the strange conspiracy which had resulted in Fouracres' ruin; letters addressed to His Royal Highness were evidently intercepted by underlings, and never came before the royal eyes. Again and again had Mr. Fouracres written long statements of his case, and petitioned for an audience. He was now resolved to adopt other methods; he would use the first opportunity of approaching the Prince's person, and lifting up his voice where he could not but be heard. He s

rent for the holidays. The terms were very moderate, and the under-master congratulated himself on this prudent step. He felt sure that a couple of months at the Pig and Whistle would be anything but

up' he sent his luggage, as usual, to the nearest railway station, and that same evening had it conveye

r. Ruddiman's favourite amusements to sketch Budgets in anticipation of that to be presented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and he always convinced himself that his own financial expedients were much superior to those laid before Parliament. All sorts of ingenious little imposts were constantly occurring to him, and his mouth wa

her the inn would have been a wretched little place-as, indeed, it was before her time. Miss Fouracres worked hard and prudently. She had no help; the garden, the poultry, all the cares of house and inn were looked after by her alone-except, indeed, a few tasks beyond her physical strength, which were disdainfu

man, after standing for a moment with eyes fixed medit

im as if in surprise, her

oon get tire

ke this life. It suits me. I like it a thous

your fan

from the house drew her attentio

Ruddiman. 'Let me go an

uldn't know

ely, I know well enough. I've watc

and was absent about ten minutes. Then he reappeared

half! I served him as if I'd

, plain countenance a half-smile of placid contentment. When they went in together, Mr. Ruddiman begged her to teach him all the mysteries of the bar, and his request was willin

ce comes

he answer, in a tone

anor, and he's promised to put me in the way of meeting His Royal Highness. I shall have to g

nd in other ways betrayed imperfect command of himself. Presently, at the tea-table, he revealed to his da

ood-humouredly, 'but I think you're going on a fool's errand, and that I tell you plain. If you'd just forg

orn. It was the first time that his daughter h

entertained His Royal Highness. You speak like an ignorant woman. Hold your t

ning, save when obliged to exchange a word or two with rustic company or i

his last bidding to her was 'Take care of the pothouse!' This treatment gave Miss Fouracres much pain, for she was a softhearted woman, and had never been anything but loyal and affectionate to her father all through his disastrous years. Moreov

one?' asked the gues

oung woman, half turned away, a

Ruddiman in a tone of friendly encouragement. 'He'll soon be back, he

've an uneasy sort of

acres. When the Prince has

yes cast down, then, looking gravely at

Pig and Whistl

, indeed! Why, it's one of the nicest little inns you could find anywhere. I'm g

eyes shone with

she said more softly, 'that fathe

have a worse home than the Pig and Whistle. And I only wish I could live h

e the school,

since I've been living here-well, it'

t this was being done Mr. Ruddiman stood by, studiously observant. He had pleasure in every detail of the inn life. To-day he several times waited upon passing guests, and laughed

up to his room. By ten o'clock the house was closed, and all thr

g his breakfast, alone in the parlour, he heard a loud cry of distress from the front part of the inn. R

guest. 'Didn't I know something was going to h

' said Mr. Ruddiman. '

a man lying in the water, which at this point was not three feet in depth. He drew the corpse to the bank, and, in so doing, recognised his acquaintance, Mr. Fouracres, with whom he had spent an hour o

now quietly weeping, went to prepare herself for the journey. In a very few m

racres?' asked Ruddiman, looking

to do about the house. I may be aw

And trust me to look after the house too, will

that I'm as

ry glad, indeed, to be u

ur dinn

ll look after myself, and the house too; see if I don't. Go

ure it is. Oh, I knew something wa

racres drove away. Before the turn of the road she looked back. Ruddiman was s

lists stopped to make a meal. Mr. Ruddiman was able to supply them with cold beef and ham; moreover, he cooked eggs, he made tea-and all this with a skill and expedition which could hardly have been expected of him. None the less did he think constantly of Miss Fouracres. About five in the afternoon wheels

've been here alone al

r. I'll get you some tea at once. Let the pony stand here a little; he

freely with his friend the gardener at an inn at Woodbury, and towards nine o'clock in the evening had gone out, as he said, for a stroll before bedtime. Why he entered the grounds of Woodbury Manor, and how he got into the pond there, no one could say. People talked of suicide, but Miss Fouracres would not entertain that

'all you have to do is to keep quiet. Don't troub

smiled at him t

ut you make me feel ashamed. W

id! Loo

of cash, and, with delight decently subdued

he exclaimed. 'Don't you

to me, Miss

more opinions were divided as to whether the hapless landlord really had or had not entertained His Royal Highness. Plainly, Mr. Fouracres' presence in the grounds of Woodbury Manor was due to the fact that the Prince happened to be staying there. In a state of irresponsibility, partly to be explained by intoxication, partly by the impulse of his fixed idea, he must have gone rambling

urhood-of course began to comment on the state of things, joking among themselves about Mr. Ruddiman's activity behind the bar. The under-master himself was in an uneasy fr

your dinner,

e parlour, stood looking at a cask

the new cask,

e must,' replied his h

ce. Some more cyc

r to supper, guests were occupying the hostess. Having eaten, he went out to smoke his pipe in the garden, and lingere

t locked

s. It's

ne hand in his waistcoat pocket, the other behin

-master in a diffident voice, 'how yo

ally diffident reply, 'I

o manage the Pig an

raid no

ve here in absolute solit

t quite lik

dn't like to leave the

rac

ay, sir, if I could

an drew a

ike the thought of leaving the Pig and Whistle; I don't like it at all. This life suit

, s

could

think of such

e way out of the difficulty

cres would assuredly have hesitated much longer before giving her definite reply. As it was, five minutes of conversation solved what had seemed a ha