ds about.'

"She turns back to her desk and goes on with her writing.

"'Dover wouldn't suit you, I suppose?' says she without looking round.

"'Dover's all right,' says he, 'if the business is a good one.'

"'It can be worked up into one of the best things going,' says she, 'and
I'm getting it dirt cheap. You can have a third share for a thousand
pounds, that's just what it's costing, and owe me the other hundred."

"'And what position do I take?' says he.

"'If you come in on those terms,' says she, 'then, of course, it's a
partnership.'

"He rose and came over to her. 'Life isn't all business, Susan,' says
he.

"'I've found it so mostly,' says she.

"'Fourteen years ago,' says he, 'I made the mistake; now you're making
it.'

"'What mistake am I making?' says she.

"'That man's the only thing as can't learn a lesson,' says he.

"'Oh,' says she, 'and what's the lesson that you've learnt?'

"'That I never get on without you, Susan,' says he.

"'Well,' says she, 'you suggested a partnership, and I agreed to it. What
more do you want?'

"'I want to know the name of the firm,' says he.

"'Mr. and Mrs. Wrench,' says she, turning round to him and holding out
her hand. 'How will that suit you?'

"'That'll do me all right,' answers he. 'And I'll try and give
satisfaction,' adds he.

"'I believe you,' says she.

"And in that way they made a fresh start, as it were."

THE WOOING OF TOM SLEIGHT'S WIFE.

"It's competition," replied Henry, "that makes the world go round. You
never want a thing particularly until you see another fellow trying to
get it; then it strikes you all of a sudden that you've a better right to
it than he has. Take barmaids: what's the attraction about 'em? In
looks they're no better than the average girl in the street; while as for
their temper, well that's a bit above the average--leastways, so far as
my experience goes. Yet the thinnest of 'em has her dozen, making
sheep's-eyes at her across the counter. I've known girls that on the
level couldn't have got a policeman to look at 'em. Put 'em behind a row
of tumblers and a shilling's-worth of stale pastry, and nothing outside a
Lincoln and Bennett is good enough for 'em. It's the competition that's
the making of 'em.

"Now, I'll tell you a story," continued Henry, "that bears upon the
subject. It's a pretty story, if you look at it from one point of view;
though my wife maintains--and she's a bit of a judge,