urton. You see, since then a curtain has come down. We
are starting a fresh act and I don't think I know you quite so well as I
did."

"Sounds like tommyrot," he grumbled.

The taxicab came to a standstill. The man got down and opened the door.
Burton half sulkily stepped out on to the pavement.

"Well, here you are," he announced. "Can't say that I think much of you
this evening."

She held out her hand. They were standing on the pavement now, in the
light of a gas-lamp, and with the chauffeur close at hand. She was not
in the least afraid but there was a lump in her throat. He looked so
very common, so far away from those little memories with which she must
grapple!

"Mr. Burton," she said, "good-night! I want to thank you for this
evening and I want to ask you to promise that if ever you are sorry
because I persuaded you to sell those little beans, you will forgive me.
It was a very wonderful thing, you know, and I didn't understand.
Perhaps I was wrong."

"Don't you worry," he answered, cheerfully. "That's all right, anyway.
It's jolly well the best thing I ever did in my life. Got my pockets
full of money already, and I mean to have a thundering good time with
it. No fear of my ever blaming you. Good-night, Miss Edith! My
regards to the governor and tell him I am all on for Menatogen."

He gave his hat a little twist and stepped back into the taxi.

"I will give my father your message," she told him, as the door opened
to receive her.

"Righto!" Burton replied. "Leicester Square, cabby!"

CHAPTER XXIX

RICHES AND REPENTANCE

There was considerable excitement in Laurence Avenue when a few mornings
later Mr. Alfred Burton, in a perfectly appointed motor-car, drew up
before the door of Clematis Villa. In a very leisurely manner he
descended and stood looking around him for a moment in the front garden.

"Poky little place," he said half to himself, having completed a
disparaging survey. "Hullo, Johnson! How are you?"

Mr. Johnson, who, with a little bag in his hand, had just trudged a
mile to save a penny, looked with something like amazement at the
apparition which confronted him. Mr. Alfred Burton was arrayed in town
clothes of the most pronounced cut. His tail coat was exactly the right
length; his trousers, although the pattern was a little loud, were
exceedingly well cut. He wore patent boots with white gaiters, a
carefully brushed silk hat, and he carried in his hand a pair of yellow
kid g