n the whole world," she said seriously.

The Beggar Man nodded.

"Some day you will love me best," he said. He took both her hands,
drawing her to her feet. "So, it's good-bye for a little. It's all been
such a rush; but I've done the best I can. My lawyers know all about our
marriage, and if anything should happen to me you'll be all right.
Shawyer will look after you if you want any help. Here's his address."
He put an envelope into her hand. "There's some more money, too--enough
to keep you going till I'm back."

Faith took the envelope, which felt extravagantly bulky.

"I haven't spent what you gave me yesterday," she reminded him.

"But you soon will," he answered. "Once you start shopping."

There was a little silence, and they looked at one another shyly. Then
the Beggar Man said, with an effort:

"Well, it's time I was going. I sent my baggage on last night. What are
you going to do?"

"I'm going home."

"I should like you to have stayed here, but ... perhaps it's best for
you to go home." He put his hands on her shoulders and drew her gently
towards him.

"Good-bye, my little wife."

Faith laid her hand on his chest, as if to hold him away; then suddenly
she melted:

"Oh, I hope you'll soon, soon come back," she said, as a child might
have done, and she raised her face for his kiss.

They said good-bye in the street with a handshake, just like ordinary
friends, and Faith stood looking after the cab that carried him away.

He had gone out of her life as quickly and strangely as he had entered
it.

She looked down at her hand, with its new ring, and a shy sort of pride
thrilled her. She was his wife! She was a married woman! The tears that
had welled to her eyes dried by magic as she walked on, her head held
high with childish dignity. She longed for someone in whom to confide,
and a sudden thought came to her. It was Saturday, and the girls left
Heeler's at twelve. It was still quite early. She would go along and
meet Peg.

With confidence born of her new position, she hailed a taxi, trembling
at her own audacity as she did so, and told the man where to drive.

This was the beginning of her new and wonderful life. She hardly gave a
thought to the Beggar Man. Her mind wandered off to the spending of the
money he had given her, to the gifts she would buy for her mother and
the twins. The stopping of the cab roused her with a start. She
scrambled out, and to her horror discovered that he had t