Part 19 (1/2)

--Editor.-- _Couldn't he go somewhere by a local line?_

--Author.-- _This is not a humorous story. The point is that I want him to be outside a certain house some twenty miles from town at eight o'clock that evening._

--Editor.-- _If I were Robert I should certainly start at once._

--Author.-- _No, I have it._)

As he sat there, his thoughts flew over the bridge of years, and he was wafted on the wings of memory to other and happier Yuletides. That Christmas when he had received his first bicycle....

That Christmas abroad....

The merry house-party at the place of his Cambridge friend....

Yuletide at the Towers, where he had first met Alice!

Ah!

Ten hours pa.s.sed rapidly thus....

(--Author.-- _I put stars to denote the flight of years._

--Editor.-- _Besides, it will give the reader time for a sandwich._)

Robert got up and shook himself.

(--Editor.-- _One moment. This is a Christmas story. When are you coming to the robin?_

--Author.-- _I really can't be bothered about robins just now. I a.s.sure you all the best Christmas stories begin like this nowadays. We may get to a robin later; I cannot say._

--Editor.-- _We must. My readers expect a robin, and they shall have it.

And a wa.s.sail-bowl, and a turkey, and a Christmas-tree, and a---- _

--Author.-- _Yes, yes; but wait. We shall come to little Elsie soon, and then perhaps it will be all right._

--Editor.-- _Little Elsie. Good!_)

Robert got up and shook himself. Then he s.h.i.+vered miserably, as the cold wind cut through him like a knife. For a moment he stood motionless, gazing over the stone parapet into the dark river beyond, and as he gazed a thought came into his mind. Why not end it all--here and now? He had nothing to live for. One swift plunge, and----

(--Editor.-- _You forget. The river was frozen._

--Author.-- _Dash it, I was just going to say that._)

But no! Even in this Fate was against him. _The river was frozen over!_ He turned away with a curse....

What happened afterwards Robert never quite understood. Almost unconsciously he must have crossed one of the numerous bridges which span the river and join North London to South. Once on the other side, he seems to have set his face steadily before him, and to have dragged his weary limbs on and on, regardless of time and place. He walked like one in a dream, his mind drugged by the dull narcotic of physical pain.

Suddenly he realised that he had left London behind him, and was in the more open s.p.a.ces of the country. The houses were more scattered; the recurring villa of the clerk had given place to the isolated mansion of the stockbroker. Each residence stood in its own splendid grounds, surrounded by fine old forest trees and approached by a long carriage sweep. Electric----

(--Editor.-- _Quite so. The whole forming a magnificent estate for a retired gentleman. Never mind that._)