from a
psychological aspect. Think of the disappointments. Excepting the
creators of omniscient detectives and exotic criminals (who form a class
apart, self-contained, opulent and immune from the stress of life) every
writer dies with his greatest work unwritten. We are beginning to bore
one another. Let us proceed to Murray's and contemplate bare backs."

IX

One evening early in the following week Flamby and Mrs. Chumley stood
upon a platform of Victoria Station looking after a train from which
protruded a forest of waving hands. Somewhere amongst them was the hand
of Don, but because of that uncomfortable mistiness which troubled her
sight at times, Flamby was quite unable to distinguish anything clearly.
"Damn the German pigs," she said under her breath.

"Did I hear you swearing, dear?" asked Mrs. Chumley tearfully. "So many
girls seem to be able to swear nowadays. No doubt they find it a great
relief."

"I am so sorry," said Flamby breathlessly. "I had really made up my mind
never to swear again and never to say things in Latin or quote
Shakespeare; but it's very hard for me."

"It must be, dear. Quite agree. I once tried to make up my mind never to
give money to blind beggars again. It was in Cairo, and I found that so
many of them were not really blind at all. Do you know, dear, it was not
a bit of good. I found myself doing it when I wasn't thinking. I tried
going out without money and then all the blind men followed me about the
streets. It was most awkward. The poor things couldn't understand why I
had changed, of course."

"You had not changed, Mrs. Chumley. You never could change," said
Flamby, squeezing the old lady's arm as they made their way out of the
station. "You will always be generous, but I hope I shall not always
swear on the slightest provocation."

"I hope you won't, dear, if you think it would be as well."

* * * * *

Number twenty-three at The Hostel now was converted into a miniature
suite de luxe. Flamby's instinctive good taste had enabled her to
arrange her new possessions and her old to the best possible advantage.
The cost of those purely useful articles which had not been purchased
under the guidance of Don, as compared with such delightful things as
cushions and gowns, surprised her very much indeed, but the ingenious
Don had secured a quantity of cutlery, linen and other household
necessities from an acquaintance "in the wholesale trade,"