He had twinges of conscience, but the aunt never mentioned the
subject again. I have reason to suppose that _she_ supposed that she had
had a fit of an unusual and alarming nature.

Next day the boys in the camp were to go back to their slums. Edward and
Gustus parted on the seashore and Edward cried. He had never met a boy
whom he liked as he liked Gustus. And Gustus himself was almost melted.

'I will say for you you're more like a man and less like a snivelling
white rabbit now than what you was when I met you. Well, we ain't done
nothing to speak of with that there conjuring trick of yours, but we've
'ad a right good time. So long. See you 'gain some day.'

Edward hesitated, spluttered, and still weeping flung his arms round
Gustus.

''Ere, none o' that,' said Gustus, sternly. 'If you ain't man enough to
know better, I am. Shake 'ands like a Briton; right about face--and part
game.'

He suited the action to the word.

Edward went back to his aunt snivelling, defenceless but happy. He had
never had a friend except Gustus, and now he had given Gustus the
greatest treasure that he possessed.

For Edward was not such a white rabbit as he seemed. And in that last
embrace he had managed to slip the little telescope into the pocket of
the reefer coat which Gustus wore, ready for his journey.

It was the greatest treasure that Edward had, but it was also the
greatest responsibility, so that while he felt the joy of self-sacrifice
he also felt the rapture of relief. Life is full of such mixed moments.

And the holidays ended and Edward went back to his villa. Be sure he had
given Gustus his home address, and begged him to write, but Gustus never
did.

Presently Edward's father came home from India, and they left his aunt
to her villa and went to live at a jolly little house on a sloping hill
at Chiselhurst, which was Edward's father's very own. They were not
rich, and Edward could not go to a very good school, and though there
was enough to eat and wear, what there was was very plain. And Edward's
father had been wounded, and somehow had not got a pension.

Now one night in the next summer Edward woke up in his bed with the
feeling that there was some one in the room. And there was. A dark
figure was squeezing itself through the window. Edward was far too
frightened to scream. He simply lay and listened to his heart. It was
like listening to a cheap American clock. The next moment a lantern
flashed in his eyes