has been a doin' of a
constant shake--like a jelly-fish on a cold day."

Cleek laughed, and catching him by the shoulder whirled him round,
looked at him, and then clapped him on the back.

"Look here, don't you get to worrying and to developing nerves, young
man," he said, "or I shall have to ship you off somewhere for a long
rest; and I'm just beginning to feel as if I couldn't do without you.
What you want is a change; and what I want is the river, so, if there is
no message from The Yard--"

"There isn't, sir."

"Good. Then 'phone through to Mr. Narkom and tell him that you and I are
going for a few days up the river as far as Henley, and that we are
going to break it on Wednesday to go to the Derby."

"Gov'nor! Gawd's truth, sir, you aren't never a-goin' to give me two
sich treats as that? From now till Thursday with jist you--jist _you_,
sir? I'll go balmy on the crumpet--I'll get to stickin' straws in my
bloomin' 'air!"

"You 'get to' the telephone and send that message to The Yard, if you
know when you're well off," said Cleek, laughing. "And, after that, out
with the kit bag and in with such things as we shall need; and--Hullo!
what's this thing?"

"A necktie and a rose bush wot I took the liberty of buyin' for you,
sir, bein' as you give me ten shillin's for myself," said Dollops
sheepishly. "I been a-keepin' of my eye on that rose bush and that
necktie for a week past, sir. I 'ope you'll take 'em, Gov'nor, and not
think me presumin', sir."

Cleek faced round and looked at him--a long look--without saying
anything, then he screwed round on his heel and walked to the window.

"It is very nice and very thoughtful of you, Dollops," he said
presently, his voice a little thick, his tones a little uneven. "But
don't be silly and waste your money, my lad. Lay it by. You may need it
one day. Now toddle on and get things ready for our outing." But
afterwards--when the boy had gone and he was alone in the room--he
walked back to the potted rose bush and touched its buds lovingly, and
stood leaning over it and saying nothing for a long time. And though the
necktie that hung on its branches was a harlequin thing of red and green
and violent purple, when he came to dress for that promised outing he
put it on and adjusted it as tenderly, wore it as proudly as ever knight
of old wore the colours of his lady.

"You look a fair treat in it, sir," said Dollops, delightedly and
admiringly, when he came in later and