e draggled appearance of Gertie, and
Frank's incredible obstinacy.

"And to think that he's brought it off, and got the girl home to her
people.... Well, thank the Lord that's over! We shan't have any more of
that sort of thing."

Dick got up presently and began to walk about, eyeing the pictures and
the books.

"Want to turn in?" asked the cleric.

"Well, I think, as we've an early start--"

The clergyman jumped up.

"You've a beastly little room, I'm afraid. We're rather full up. And
you, Mr. Kirkby!"

"I'll wait till you come back," he said.

* * * * *

The two went out, after good-nights, and Jack was left staring at the
fire.

He felt very wide-awake, and listened contentedly to the dying noises of
the streets. Somewhere in that hive outside was Frank--old Frank. That
was very good to think of....

During these last months Frank's personality had been very persistently
before him. It was not that he pretended to understand him in the very
least; but he understood enough now to feel that there was something
very admirable in it all. It was mad and quixotic and absurd, but it
had a certain light of nobility. Of course, it would never do if people
in general behaved like that; society simply could not go on if everyone
went about espousing the cause of unhappy and badly-behaved individuals,
and put on old clothes and played the Ass. But, for all that, it was not
unpleasant to reflect that his own friend had chosen to do these things
in despite of convention. There was a touch of fineness in it. And it
was all over now, thank God.... What times they would have up in the
north!

He heard a gate clash somewhere outside. The sound just detached itself
from the murmur of the night. Then a late train ran grinding over the
embanked railway behind the house, and drew up with the screaming of
brakes at Victoria Park Station, and distracted him again.

"Are you ready, Mr. Kirkby?" said the clergyman, coming in.

Jack stood up, stretching himself. In the middle of the stretch he
stopped.

"What's that noise?" he asked.

They stood listening.

Then again came the sharp, prolonged tingle of an electric bell,
followed by a battering at a door downstairs.

Jack, looking in the other's face, saw him go ever so slightly pale
beneath his eyes.

"There's somebody at the door," said Mr. Parham-Carter. "I'll just go
down and see."

And, as Jack stood there, motionless and breathl