nto the town. I don't want to pump you. We can see
plain enough. We often get young customers like you."

"I didn't know I was too young," said Richard, hoarsely.

"Nobody said you were, my lad; but you're not our sort. We want a
rougher breed than you."

"Very well," said Richard.

"No, it isn't, my lad. You take a bit of good advice: be off back
home--sharp! Don't stop in the town here, or you'll get picked up.
There's a lot outside ready to be down upon you, and they'll humbug and
promise everything till they've sucked every shilling you've got out of
you and made you sell your watch."

Richard's hand went sharply to his chain, and the sergeant laughed.

"I know what it is: bit of a row at home, and you've cut off to 'list;
and, if you could have had your way, you'd have done what you'd have
given anything to undo in a month."

There was something so frank and honest in the plump, good-humoured face
before him that Richard's hand went out directly.

"Shake hands? Of course," said the sergeant, grasping the lad's.
"White hand!--Ring on it!" he cried, laughing, "There! go back home."

Richard snatched his hand back, colouring deeply, like a girl.

"Thank you!" he said. "You mean well, sergeant; but you don't know
all."

"And don't want to. There, don't stop in the town; get off at once."

"I'm going to have some dinner," said Richard. "Come and have something
with me."

"Had mine, my lad," said the sergeant, laughing. "What's the use of me
giving you good advice if you don't take it. There, good-bye, my lad.
Banks was quite right."

He nodded, faced round, and marched away, leaving Richard Frayne gazing
at the black future before him as he muttered--

"Beaten! Why did I fight my way out of the flood?"

His next thought made him shudder: for a river was below there in the
town, and he had crossed a bridge, beneath which the deep water flowed
fast to where there was oblivion and rest.

He spoke mentally once more:

"Why not?"

As Richard Frayne gazed after the fat sergeant he failed to see the
ridiculously fat back in the tight jacket for somehow he was looking
inside at the man's heart.

"But he does not know--he does not know," muttered the lad, as he turned
now and walked back toward the town street, down which he hurried with
the intention of finding a quiet place where he could have a meal, and
turned at last into a coffee-house, where he ordered tea and
bread-and-butter, drink