ld have omitted dinner and trusted to Marguerite's kitchen, only that, in view of the secrecy resolved upon, appearances had to be preserved. The secrecy in itself was delicious, but even the

aim would again be absent, and he

o. 8, and when he did so he was a little surprised at her presentableness. He had met her very seldom in the house. He was always late for breakfast, and his breakfast was always waiting for him. On Sundays he was generally out. If he did catch sight of her, she was invariably in a rough apron and as a rule on her knees. Their acquaintance had scarcely progressed

ce, too thin for her body. He noticed that she was per

n apologetic air she slipped past

resence at the office; and he was so preoccupied by his own secret mighty affair that his first suspicion connected the strange apparition of a new Mrs. Lobley and the peculiar look o

Mr. Haim queerly. "Yo

tion. "Have to read, you know." He was usi

are me a minute,

tain

reassured George, who in spite of reason had continued to fear that the landlord had something on his mind about his daughter and

Mr. Enwright this afternoon, as I thought was proper, and it see

ye

ng to be

euce y

ave to be treated very carefully. And George too now suddenly partook of the emotion. He felt himself to be astonished and even shaken by Mr. Haim's news. The atmosphere of th

late you,"

to be my wife, and she has done me the honour to consent." He had the air of having invented the words specially to indicate that Mrs. Lobley was descending from a throne in order to espouse him. It could not have occurred to him that they had ever

? If I was marrying a charwoman, I should say I was marrying a charwoman." And then he had a misgiving: "Should I? I wonder whethe

out of it splendidly. She's always kept up her little home, though it was only two rooms, and she'll only leave it because I can offer her a

agreed feebly. He could no

me negotiation. Ground-rent ￡10 per annum, and seventy years to run. You see, all along I had had the idea of building a studio in the garden. I was one of the first to see the commercial possibilities of studios in Chelsea. But of course I know Chelsea. I made the drawings for the studio myself. Mr. Enwright kindly suggested a few improvements. With all my experience I was in a position to get

ly g

You may tell me I've realized my ambitions. Not all of them, Mr. Cannon. Not all of them. If I'd had money I should have had leisure, and I should have improved myself. Reading, I mean. Study. Literature. Music. Painting. History of architecture.

achievement was to marry a charwoman, still the achievement impressed. And the shabby man with the lined, common face was looking back at the whole of his life-there was something positively formidable in that alone. He was at the end; G

venturesome remark; it might well have been called an impertinence; but the mage of Margu

e mantelpiece sharply. Then he h

t the vibration George was suddenly apprehensive. Mr. Haim had soon recovered from h

cleared his throa

dn't

Mr. Cannon, I had hoped to get through my life without a scandal, and especially an open scandal. But it seems as if I shouldn't-if I know my daughter! It was not my intention to say anything

e house?" George qu

he dropped like an inert lump on to a ch

ncerting manner, and from his sight the Lucas & Enwright factotum vanished utterly, and was supplanted by a tragic human being. But he had no idea how to handle the unexampled situation with dignit

," he absurdly suggested, and departed from

man did