owe her for the lodgings
you know.

"Very well" cried Cyril "but you'll have a long wait at the station."

"I know" said Mr. Palsey "but I can amuse myself with a few comic papers
and a pipe."

"So with a hearty shake of the hands the two villains sealed the
compact.

CHAPTER 14

HOME AGAIN

Cyril was very busy all that afternoon; he barely had time to attend Mr.
Winston's funeral, which he did however for politeness sake.

It was not a grand funeral by any means and I think it would have broken
Helen's heart to see the plain unvarnished coffin which her poor
father's remains were deposited in.

When Cyril returned from the ceremony, he settled his accounts with Mrs.
Pollard and then proceeded to pack his portmanteau, which piece of
business did not take him very long.

He was about to depart from his room, when something lying upon the
floor attracted his attention.

It was a water coloured painting of Mr. Winston.

How Cyril's heart smote him, as he gazed at those calm, stern features
and mild blue eyes, with so much trust in their orbs.

He hastily shuffled the painting into his pocket, and with something
between a groan and a sarcastic laugh, made a rapid retreat down the
stair case.

Helen was waiting in the hall.

She looked a very different girl from the bright rosy faced Helen of a
week ago.

Her cheeks were white and hollow save for one hectic spot and her great
hazel eyes seemed too dark for her face. Her dark hair was limp and
uncurled, and her lips were as ashy as her face. She looked a sad little
picture, indeed, as she stood there in the hall, with her grey cloak
loosly buttoned round her, and her new black crape hat contrasting
queerly with her ghost-like countenance.

Cyril's heart of stone was quite touched as he saw her looking so vastly
changed.

"Come Helen" he said carresingly as he patted her hair behind, "it feels
like old times to be walking with you again."

"Perhaps it does to you" quoth Helen bitterly "but to me it is
unbearable."

Cyril said nothing, but gently helped her down the steps. In an hours
time they were at the station.

Helen sat on a seat to rest till the train came up, and Cyril went over
to the bookstall, keeping close to a remarkably tall foreign looking
gentleman who was laughing over Tit Bits.

"Come away," whispered Helen to Cyril "that man reminds me of the two
faced villain Mr. Palsey."

"Helen" muttered Cyril between his teeth "be q