she must have forgotten it." 

 "Why?" asked George. 

 "She went off to her mother's this morning for a month. What a nuisance! I'm awfully sorry! But, I say, Early, you can come down just the same, old chap. We'll have supper together, and run over to the Free Library for an hour afterwards." 

 "Thanks," said George. "I will." 

 "That's right," said Busby, "do." 

 George didn't go, he went home to his rabbit dinner and abused his landlady in a most outrageous manner. 

 "In all my days," said Mrs. Haskins to her gouty aunt, "I've never been talked to like that. Bless my soul! if you ask me about it, I say let 'im get the Morning Post and take a flat in Kensington, and them as laughs last laughs most!" 

 George Early got to the office next morning at his proper time, surprising the staff as much as by his lateness the day before. His conduct throughout the day was most exemplary, and he bore the sneers of Busby and the taunts of Gray with meekness and resignation. Parrott found fault with his work, and went to the verge of bullying him. George obeyed his instructions, and knuckled under in a most abject manner, going so far as to call the head clerk "sir," and ask for a day off to bury his uncle. 

 "A day off!" said Gray, chuckling to himself; "I think he needs it. I like a man to come playing the old soldier with me, and think he's going to get off best." 

 Busby was highly gratified at the turn affairs had taken. He had had to pay his wife's fare to her mother's, certainly, and give her a ten-pound note; but, taking into consideration Early's previous victory, things looked very promising. 

 Parrott said nothing, but as he saw George go meekly out of the office he smiled, which meant a very great deal, for Parrott only smiled on the most rare occasions. 

  Chapter V—A New Lodger in Leytonstone 

Chapter V

On the next day, as Gray left the office for Liverpool Street Station en route for Leytonstone, he ran into a man carrying a black bag. 

 Prev. P 26/193 next