in?"

"Yes, my dear," said Robert cheerfully, and a few minutes later he heard
the front door close.

Left to himself, he walked to the window and resumed his idle staring.
Remembering that now he was a free agent he began to whistle again, a
trifle mournfully, for he was meditating on life. This, for the average
man, as a rule, begets melancholy--particularly if it is his own life he
reflects on.

Robert Hedderwick had been chief cashier in a big store for more than
fifteen years. He had earned two hundred and fifty pounds a year (with
an occasional bonus) for some time, and on the whole he had enjoyed his
work. At least it had always been interesting, and had given him that
most necessary of all things--regular and definite occupation. And
though at times he used to wish he was a partner or had more prospects,
still he had been contented. Then at the age of fifty an uncle had died
and left him a handsome competence. Alicia at once had made him forswear
the office and set up as a gentleman of leisure. Not that he had been
unwilling to obey. At first he had welcomed the relief from thraldom. It
was a luxury to be able to lie in bed a little longer, if he wished,
without feeling "I must get up _now_, or I shall miss the eight-fifty."
It was a luxury to sit at ease in his strip of garden on a fine morning
and read the newspaper. It was not unpleasant to think that his former
colleagues were saying, "Lucky chap, Hedderwick!" what time they were
under the eyes of their master.

But these and similar luxuries palled after a time, and he began to
grow, not exactly discontented, but restless and vaguely unhappy. He had
no hobbies, save reading, and none but the ardent student wishes to read
throughout the day. He felt himself a little old to begin photography,
stamp-collecting or wood-carving; still, recognizing the need of some
occupation, he tried to do a little gardening. The strip of land at the
back of the house was small, being some thirty yards long by twenty
broad. Two-thirds of this was grass, which he mowed conscientiously once
a week: the rest was given up to flowers. As Robert knew nothing of
flowers, he employed a man to do what was necessary in the way of
digging and planting. When the serious business of horticulture was
finished he would employ himself in cutting off dying blossoms,
uprooting weeds and watering. But the sum total of his labor in the
little plot did not amount to more than four or five hour