ilkins's Hotel, London, were so singular, and to him so

rrive in London several days before the option expired. But he had not given a definite date. The whole affair, indeed, was amusingly vague; and, despite his assurances to his wife that the matter was momentous, he did not regard his trip to London as a busi

n, as though it were an occasion for joy on father's behalf, tempered by [60] affectionate sorrow for his absence. The official theory was that all was for the best in the best of all possible homes, and this theory was admirably maintained. And yet everybody k

e false cordiality as had marked their relations since the evening of the dog-bite. On that evening Nellie had suddenly transformed herself into a distressingly perfect angel, and not once had she descended from her high estate. At least dai

old clerk, Penkethman, was there to receive certain final instructions on Thrift Club matters, and the sweetness of Nellie's attitude towards the ancient man,

Henry really needed a change just about completed Edward Henry's desperation. Not [61] even the uproarious advent of t

ie and stooped. She raised her white veil and raised the angelic face. They kissed-the same false kiss-and she was withdrawing her lips ... But suddenly she put them again to his for one second, with a hysterical, clinging pressure. It was nothing. Nobody

d to h

on't write to

pantomime to his signals. But if the train had not been rapidly and infallibly separating them the reconciliation could scarcely have been thus open. If for some reason t

he corridor door, observed that his spirits had shot up in the most astonishing manner, and in their [62]

said that he didn't mind a game, but that he had not the slightest intention of paying excess fare for the privilege. Mr. Garvin told him to come along and trust in Messieurs Garvin & Quorrall. Edward Henry, not nowadays an enthusiastic card-player, enthusiastically agreed to join the hand, and announced that he did not care if he p

will ye?" said Mr. Quorrall, casuall

nd the game began. The ticket-collector examined the tickets of Brindley and Edward Henry, and somehow failed to notice that they

halfpenny, was exuberantly content, for Messrs Garvin, Quorrall and Brindley were all renowned card-player

up?" Brindley as

d Edward Henry.

gsway, I

which, from causes which nobody, and especially no American, has ever been able to discover, are partic

n the Five Towns during the previous week. He had crammed the theatre and half emptied the Empire Music Hall for six nights; a wonderful feat. Incidentally, his fifteen hundredth appearance in "Overheard" had taken place in the Five T

s at Wilkins's,"

other!" Brindley essay

s," said Mr. Garvin, an individual not eas

ve him!" Brindley

e than he had ever bought a first-class ticket on a railroad. The idea of doing so had scarcely occurred to him. There are certain ways of extravagant smartness which are not considered to be good form among solid wealthy provincials. Why travel first-class (they argue) when second is just as good and no one can tell the difference once you get out of the train? Why ape the tricks of another stratum of society? They like to read about the dinner-parties and supper-parties at the Grand Babylon; but they are

have him," said Edward Henry, as he

n't, Alderman!"

ng to Wilkins's," Ed

ou," said Brindley

r I do." Had he not won eighteenpence halfpenny

the cautious Brindley. "But

said Edw

will y

st go to the Majestic first, beca

ate that Edward Henry was seeking to es

On his face and on the faces of the other two was the cheerful admission that tales of the doings of Alder

ried out