I shall.'

'Have you got enough money to go on with?' Alice asked.

'Dick sent me a pound this morning. I didn't want it'

'Has he been to see you yet, mother?'

The old woman shook her head.

'Do you want him to come, or don't you?'

There was silence. Alice looked at her mother askance. The leathern mask
of a face was working with some secret emotion.

'He'll come if he likes, I s'pose,' was her abrupt answer.

In the renewed silence they heard some one enter the house and descend
the kitchen stairs. 'Arry presented himself. He threw his hat upon a
chair, and came forward with a swagger to seat himself at the tea-table.

His mother did not look at him.

'Anything to eat?' he asked, more loudly than was necessary, as if he
found the silence oppressive.

'There's bread and butter,' replied Alice, with lofty scorn.

'Hullo! Is it you?' exclaimed the young man, affecting to recognise his
sister. 'I thought you was above coming here Have they turned you out of
your house?'

'That's what'll happen to you, I shouldn't wonder.'

'Arry cast a glance towards his mother. Seeing that her eyes were fixed
in another direction, he began pantomimic interrogation of Alice. The
latter disregarded him.

'Arry presented an appearance less than engaging. He still bore the
traces of last night's debauch and of his sojourn in the police-cell.
There was dry mud on the back of his coat, his shirt-cuffs and collar
were of a slaty hue, his hands and face filthy. He began to eat bread
and butter, washing down each morsel with a gulp of tea. The spoon
remained in the cup whilst he drank. To 'Arry it was a vast relief to be
free from the conventionalities of Adela's table.

'That lawyer fellow Yottle's been to see them to-day,' he remarked
presently.

Alice looked at him eagerly.

'What about?'

'There was talk about you and Rodman.'

'What did they say?'

'Couldn't hear. I was in the other room. But I heard Yottle speaking
your name.'

He had, in fact, heard a few words through the keyhole, but not enough
to gather the sense of the conversation, which had been carried on in
discreet tones.

'There you are!' Alice exclaimed, addressing her mother. 'They're
plotting against us, you see.'

'I don't think it 'ud be Dick's wish to do you harm,' said Mrs. Mutimer
absently.

'Dick 'll do whatever she tells him.'

'Adela, eh?' observed 'Arry. 'She's a cat.'

'You mind your own business!' returned his sister.

'So i