ect of throwing
off the scent a certain gentleman who had been tracking out Abel Bones
with the perseverance, though not the success, of a bloodhound.

The man in grey, after losing, or rather coming to the end, of his clew
at the Post-Office furnace, recovered it by some magical powers known
best to himself and his compeers, and tracked his victim to Archangel
Court, but here he lost the scent again, and seemed to be finally
baffled. It was well for Bones that it so fell out, because in his weak
state it would probably have gone hard with him had he believed that the
police were still on his tracks. As it was, he progressed slowly but
favourably, and with this good news Pax and his friend hurried to
Rosebud Cottage.

What an unmitigated blessing a holiday is to those who work hard! Ah!
ye lazy ones of earth, if ye gain something by unbounded leisure ye lose
much. Stay--we will not preach on that text. It needs not!

To return: Phil and Pax found Tottie and May at The Rosebud as they had
anticipated--the latter being free for a time on sick-leave--and the
four went in for a holiday, as Pax put it, neck and crop.

It may occur to some that there was somewhat of incongruity in the
companionship of Tottie and May, but the difference between the poor
man's daughter who had been raised to comparative affluence, and the
gentleman's daughter who had been brought down to comparative poverty,
was not so great as one might suppose. It must be remembered that
Tottie had started life with a God-fearing mother, and that of itself
secured her from much contamination in the midst of abounding evil,
while it surrounded her with a rich influence for good. Then, latterly,
she had been mentally, morally, and physically trained by Miss
Lillycrop, who was a perfect pattern of propriety delicacy, good sense,
and good taste. She first read to her pupil, and then made the pupil
read to her. Miss Lillycrop's range of reading was wide and choice.
Thus Tottie, who was naturally refined and intelligent, in time became
more so by education. She had grown wonderfully too, and had acquired a
certain sedateness of demeanour, which was all the more captivating that
it was an utterly false index to her character, for Tottie's spirit was
as wildly exuberant as that of the wildest denizen of Archangel Court.

In like manner Pax had been greatly improved by his association with
Phil Maylands. The vigorous strength of Phil's mind had unconsci