ng with sobs.

Bindle soothed her as if she had been a child.

"Oh, don't leave me, Uncle Joe, promise, promise!" She looked at Bindle
with fear in her eyes. "Promise, darling Uncle Joe."

"I won't leave the little Millikins," said Bindle reassuringly. "I
won't leave yer until yer say I can go, see?"

Disengaging Millie's arms from his neck, Bindle placed her gently on
the sofa, and Mrs. Hearty, who had just entered the room breathing
laboriously, sat down beside the half-fainting girl, looking at her
helplessly.

"Don't cry, Millie dear," Mrs. Hearty wheezed, although there were no
signs of tears, as she stroked one of Millie's hands.

All this time Mr. Hearty had been looking on in a dazed way, conscious
that the control of the situation was slipping from his grasp. He was
roused by Bindle's voice.

"Now then, 'Earty, wot the 'ell do yer mean by this?"

It was a new Bindle that Mr. Hearty saw before him. The humorous twist
had gone from his mouth, the light of fun was no longer in his eyes.
Mr. Hearty saw a stern, resolute man who was demanding of him an
explanation.

During the last quarter of an hour he had pictured a scene vastly
different from this. He was to be the outraged father indignantly
demanding an explanation from a crestfallen and humbled Bindle.
Through his mind there had passed the thought that the enemy had been
delivered into his hands. He had felt like a righteous and triumphant
Israel; and now everything had turned out so differently.

"Ain't you got nothink to say?" Mr. Hearty was awakened from his
meditation by Bindle's angry enquiry. Even Mrs. Hearty looked up,
mildly surprised at the unaccustomed note in Bindle's voice.

"I have a lot to say," replied Mr. Hearty with an obvious effort, "and
I want an explanation from you, Joseph." Instinctively Mr. Hearty felt
that his tone was too mild for that of the outraged father, and he
added in what he meant to be a stern voice, "and I--I demand an
explanation before you leave this house to-night."

"There ain't no fear o' my leavin' before yer want me to," replied
Bindle grimly. "Don't you worry yer saintly soul about that, 'Earty.
Now, what is it yer want to know?"

Mr. Hearty stroked his chin. "I--I----" How he disliked scenes!
"I--I want to know why Millie was alone with a strange young man in
Putney High Street this evening, when she was supposed to be with you?"

Mr. Hearty strove to be dignified and at the same time ap