th
me, "is complete rest and a tombstone."

I wished at the time I could have followed his prescription.

The maternal Sellars waddled after us into the passage, which she
completely blocked. She told me she was delight-ted to have met me, and
that she was always at home on Sundays.

I said I would remember it, and thanked her warmly for a pleasant
evening, at Miss Sellars' request calling her Ma.

Outside, Miss Sellars agreed that my presentiment had proved
correct--that I had not shone to advantage. Our journey home on a
tramcar was a somewhat silent proceeding. At the door of her room she
forgave me, and kissed me good night. Had I been frank with her, I
should have thanked her for that evening's experience. It had made my
course plain to me.

The next day, which was Thursday, I wandered about the streets till two
o'clock in the morning, when I slipped in quietly, passing Miss Sellars'
door with my boots in my hand.

After Mr. Lott's departure on Friday, which, fortunately, was pay-day,
I set my desk in order and confided to Minikin written instructions
concerning all matters unfinished.

"I shall not be here to-morrow," I told him. "Going to follow your
advice."

"Found anything to do?" he asked.

"Not yet," I answered.

"Suppose you can't get anything?"

"If the worst comes to the worst," I replied, "I can hang myself."

"Well, you know the girl. Maybe you are right," he agreed.

"Hope it won't throw much extra work on you," I said.

"Well, I shan't be catching it if it does," was his answer. "That's all
right."

He walked with me to the "Angel," and there we parted.

"If you do get on to the stage," he said, "and it's anything worth
seeing, and you send me an order, and I can find the time, maybe I'll
come and see you."

I thanked him for his promised support and jumped upon the tram.

The O'Kelly's address was in Belsize Square. I was about to ring and
knock, as requested by a highly-polished brass plate, when I became
aware of pieces of small coal falling about me on the doorstep. Looking
up, I perceived the O'Kelly leaning out of an attic window. From signs
I gathered I was to retire from the doorstep and wait. In a few minutes
the door opened and his hand beckoned me to enter.

"Walk quietly," he whispered; and on tip-toe we climbed up to the attic
from where had fallen the coal. "I've been waiting for ye," explained
the O'Kelly, speaking low. "Me wife--a good woman, Paul; sure, a bett