TO-MORROW
Page: 15

What would Harry say?"

Bessie Carvil's figure appeared in black silhou-
ette on the parlour window; then, with the sound of
an opening door, flitted out before the other cot-
tage, all black, but with something white over
her head. These two voices beginning to talk sud-
denly outside (she had heard them indoors) had
given her such an emotion that she could not utter
a sound.

Captain Hagberd seemed to be trying to find his
way out of a cage. His feet squelched in the pud-
dles left by his industry. He stumbled in the holes
of the ruined grass-plot. He ran blindly against
the fence.

"Here, steady a bit!" said the man at the gate,
gravely stretching his arm over and catching him
by the sleeve. "Somebody's been trying to get at
you. Hallo! what's this rig you've got on? Storm
canvas, by George!" He had a big laugh.
"Well, you ARE a character!"

Captain Hagberd jerked himself free, and began
to back away shrinkingly. "For the present," he
muttered, in a crestfallen tone.

"What's the matter with him?" The stranger
addressed Bessie with the utmost familiarity, in a
deliberate, explanatory tone. "I didn't want to
startle the old man." He lowered his voice as
though he had known her for years. "I dropped
into a barber's on my way, to get a twopenny
shave, and they told me there he was something of
a character. The old man has been a character all
his life."

Captain Hagberd, daunted by the allusion to his
clothing, had retreated inside, taking his spade
with him; and the two at the gate, startled by the
unexpected slamming of the door, heard the bolts
being shot, the snapping of the lock, and the echo
of an affected gurgling laugh within.

"I didn't want to upset him," the man said,
after a short silence. "What's the meaning of all
this? He isn't quite crazy."

"He has been worrying a long time about his
lost son," said Bessie, in a low, apologetic tone.

"Well, I am his son."

"Harry!" she cried--and was profoundly si-
lent.

"Know my name? Friends with the old man,
eh?"

"He's our landlord," Bessie faltered out, catch-
ing hold of the iron railing.