tening dismally to the hum of voices raised in argument and the
pleasant clink of glasses in the bar, now filled with workmen carrying
their bags of tools, their faces covered with the sweat and grime of
the day.

"Fetch me a cab, Smacker," he said. "My wife's been taken ill. She
fainted in the street, and they brought her here to recover."

"Right y'are, boss," cried Joe. "She turned giddy as she was walkin'
past, an' yer tried to pull 'er round with a drop of brandy."

He repeated the words like a boy reciting a lesson, feeling anxiously
with his thumb as he spoke, wondering if the coin Jonah had pushed into
his hand was a florin or a half-dollar.

Cassidy and Joe, one on each side, helped Ada into the cab. Her feet
scraped helplessly over the flagged pavement her head lolled on her
shoulder, and the baleful white gleam of the huge electric lamps fell
like limelight on her face contracted in an atrocious leer.

The "Silver Shoe" was closed and in darkness, and Jonah drew a breath
of relief. The neighbours were at their tea, and he could get his
shameful burden in unseen. Prendergast, the cabman, helped him to drag
Ada across the shop to the foot of the stairs, where with an oath he
threw her across his shoulder, and ran up the winding staircase as if
he were carrying a bag of chaff.

Suddenly the door on the landing opened, throwing a flood of light on
their faces, and Jonah was astonished to see Miss Grimes, trim and
neat, looking in alarm from him to the cabman and his burden. As
Prendergast dropped Ada on the couch, she took a step forward.

"What has happened? Is she hurt?" she asked, bending over Ada; but the
next moment she turned away.

This unconscious movement of disgust maddened Jonah. What was she
doing there to see his humiliation?

"No, she's not hurt," said Jonah dryly. "But wot are you doing 'ere?"
he added.

His tone nettled the young woman, and she coloured.

"I'm sorry I'm in the way," she said stiffly, "but Mr Johnson locked
up, and was anxious to get away, and as I was giving Ray his lesson, I
offered to stay with him till someone came."

"I beg yer pardon," said Jonah. "I'm much obliged to yer fer mindin'
the kid, but I didn't want yer to see this."

"I've known it all the time," said Clara, quietly.

"Ah," said Jonah, understanding many things in a flash.

He caught sight of Ray, staring open-mouthed at his mother lying so
strangely huddled on the couch.

"Yer mothe