d in perfection the art of living for the moment, no art in his case, but a natural characteristic, for which it never occurred to him to be grateful. Indeed, it is a common characterist

esires, but so long as he suffered neither from headache nor stomach-ache

g the end of Upper Kennington Lane he settled the matter by striking towards Vauxhall Station. A short railway journey and ano

ornament for the table for hire on moderate terms." Mr. Gammon read this with an appreciative smile, which,

does

yesterday. A wedding

You'll want a bigger place

neat, comely, and active woman, with a complexion as clear as that of her own best china, chatted vivaciously with the visitor, whilst sh

uired presently, after moving to

s explanation with

watching him for a moment and averting her eyes as soon as they were m

which would have astonished Mrs. Clover. Few women of her class are prone to this kind of emphasis. Her friendly manner had a

y than he was wont to speak. "I shall do bette

n for ten years,

o, on entering the shop, conversed with Mrs. Clover in the lowest possible voice, and presently returned to her vehicle with uneasy glanc

ion. Wants things for an at 'ome-teaspoons as well-couldn't I make it ninepence the two dozen

on. "I'm going to have a peep at the bo

away, pretending to observ

d, "I want to speak

abou

I'll tell you

absent expression on her comely face, then turned into the shop and gave the young

Her rating had no malice in it, and only si

you expect in June? You don't mind the

ied the young g

did you make

e, mum, and

he heat. Finish that job and run off

rs. Clover's parents, who kept a china shop at Islington; beyond the postmarks, which indicated constant travel in England and abroad, these letters (always very affectionate) gave no information as to the writer's circumstances. When Mrs. Clover had lived with her parents for about three years she was summoned by her husband to Dulwich, where the man had somehow established himself as a cab proprietor; he explained his wanderings as the result of mere restlessness, and with this cold comfort Mrs. Clover had to be content. By degrees they settled into a not unhappy life

ld have been well but for the harassing mystery that disturbed their lives. Clover's letters were still posted in London; money still came from him, sometimes in remittances of as much as twenty pounds. But handwriting and composition often suggested that the writer was either ill or intoxicat

as not unnatural that Mr. Gammon showed a very red face, shining with moisture; but his decided hilarity, his tendency to hum tunes and beat time with his feet, his noisy laughter and expansive talk, could hardly be attributed to the same cause. Having taken a seat near Minnie he kept his look steadily fixed upon her, and evidently discoursed with a view of affording her amusement; not altogether successfully it appeared, for the

a rat hunt, in which a young terrier had displayed ast

d run round to Mrs. Walker's for me. I'l

m. Mr. Gammon, whose countenance had fallen,

. What did you want to g

red good-humouredly, but with some impatience. "The

hint to talk of something else." He leaned forward, and softened hi

dare sa

. Clover away. She whispered outsi

told her t

with her arms on the round table she looked Mr. G

e again after you'v

y n

nt to have to speak pla

pause. The listener, who had sobered wonderfully,

back at all?" fe

rse she

thought you could be s

ving come over her face, then, flushing just a little, as if af

ou to say a

half believe Polly's no b

ver's face deepened a

mean by sayin

enitence. "Look here, I really didn't; but you put

ver. "She's been here to-d

ly d

don't know what's coming to the gi

r would do rema

r, laughing. "Trust Polly to take care

, for the girl came only to "show off" and make herself generally offensive. Mrs. Clover de

mmon finally. "Don't you fret about

did you sa

iled me, sendi

, and again she looked her

ou want he

dible fervour. He shrugged his shoulders, sh

w. It isn't the first time I'

ry sorry. I'

ought that Mrs. Clover was softening the rej

's no good?"

not a bit. And

if calculating the force of the bl

ooking out, and now I thought I'd found her. Hanged if it isn't hard lines! I could have married scores-scores; but do you suppose I'd have a girl that showed she was only waiting for me to sa

mean just that

I haven't got

, n

ecause I go

N

, th

n it. And what's more"-her eyes sparkled-"if ever you

way. After a rather long silence he looke

? Hottest day yet. I say, you're not riled with

ar the china shop, and paused, for a moment only, by the door. On the opposite side of the street stood a man who had also paused