asting since breakfast, but he
said nothing about the priest. The Major with an air of great
preciseness measured out half a finger of whisky and insisted, with the
air of a paternal doctor, upon his drinking it immediately.

"And now a cigarette, for God's sake," said Frank. "By the way, I've got
some work for to-morrow."

"That's first-rate, my boy," said the Major. "I've been working myself
this week."

Frank produced his fourpence and laid it on the corner of the table.

"That's for supper and bed to-night," he said.

"Nonsense, my boy; put it back in your pocket."

"Kindly take that fourpence," remarked Frank. "You can add some
breakfast to-morrow, if you like."

* * * * *

He related his adventures presently--always excepting the priest--and
described how he had met a man at the gate of a builder's yard this
evening as he came through York, who had promised him a day's job, and
if things were satisfactory, more to follow.

"He seemed a decent chap," said Frank.

* * * * *

The Major and Gertie had not much to relate. They had left the
market-town immediately after Frank's little matter in the magistrates'
court, and had done pretty well, arriving in York ten days ago. They
hardly referred to Frank's detention, though he saw Gertie looking at
him once or twice in a curiously shy kind of way, and understood what
was in her mind. But for very decency's sake the Major had finally to
say something.

"By the way, my boy, I won't forget what you did for me and for my
little woman here. I'm not a man of many words, but--"

"Oh! that's all right," said Frank sleepily. "You'll do as much for me
one day."

The Major assented with fervor and moist eyes. It was not till Frank
stood up to go to bed that anyone remembered the letters.

"By the way, there are two letters come for you," said the Major,
hunting in the drawer of the table. Frank's bearing changed. He whisked
round in an instant.

"Where are they?"

They were put into his hand. He looked at them carefully, trying to make
out the postmark--turned them upside down and round, but he made no
motion to open them.

"Where am I to sleep?" he said suddenly. "And can you spare a bit of
candle?"

(And as he went upstairs, it must have been just about the time that the
letter-box at Barham was cleared for the late Sunday post.)

(II)

Frank lay a long time awake in the dark that night,