Part 43 (2/2)

He looked at his wife She was not talkative, but she had received him in the hall with every detail of affection, if a little absent- to the state of the house She had not been caustic, like hisShe had not infor air that she failed to understand why them as were in London couldn't stop in London for a bit, as hisfully entitled her to wear a white apron at n to hih to want to please him On the whole he was fairly optimistic about his plan of salvation Nevertheless, it was not until nearly the end of theconsuan to try to broach it

”Nell,” he said, ”I suppose you wouldn't care to co, a s how that simple woood-natured s of this?”

Then she flushed The flush touched Edward Henry in an extraordinary manner

(”To think,” he reflected incredulously, ”that only last night I was talking in the dark to Elsie April--and here I alory of Elsie's frock, and her thrilling voice in the gloom, and that pose of hers as she leaned dimly forward)

”Well,” he said aloud, as naturally as he could, ”that theatre's beginning to get up on its hind-legs now, and I should like you to see it”

A difficult pass for hiards his mother! This was the first time he had ever overtly spoken of the theatre in his mother's presence In the best bedroom he had talked of it--but even there with a certain self-consciousness and false casualness Now, his ht in front of her with an expression of which she alone as had the enerously

”Well,” said he, ”I've got to go back to town to-morrow Wilt come with me, lass?”

”Don't be silly, Edward Henry,” said she ”How can I leave ?”

”You needn't leave htly

”You won't!” observed Mrs Machin

”I _have to_ go to-ht as well coe for you”

(He said to hio to-irl That's the one thing to do”)

”It would be a change for reed--she was beyond doubt flattered and calmly pleased ”But I can't possibly come to-morrow

You can see that for yourself, dear”

”No, I can't!” he cried impatiently ”What does it ht After all, spring-cleaning isn't the Day of Judg in between them like a thin blade, ”I wish you wouldn't be blasphemous London's London, and Bursley's Bursley” She had finished

”It's quite out of the question for me to come to-morrow, dear I must have notice I really must”

And Edward Henry saith alarm that Nellie had made up her estion had faded from her face

”Oh! Dash these doht, and shortly afterwards departed, brooding, to the offices of the Thrift Club

VIII

He tiht upstairs to the chamber known indifferently as ”Maisie's rooh he found the three children there alone! They were fed, washed, night-gowned and even dressing-gowned; and this was the hour when, while nurse repaired the consequences of their revolutionary conduct in the bathroom and other places, they were left to the, the insteps of his soft pink feet rubbing idly against the pile of the rug, his elbows digging into the pile, his chin on his fists, and a book perpendicularly beneath his eyes Ralph, careless adventurer rather than student, had cli brass rail of Maisie's new bedstead and was thereon i a recently-seen circus perfor on the flat of her back, was singing nonchalantly to the ceiling Carlo, unaware that at that nancy of Providence in his behalf, was feeling syhtly bored

”hello, kids!” Edward Henry greeted them As he had seen them before mid-day dinner, the more formal ceremonies of salutation after absence--so hateful to the Five Towns temperament--were happily over and done with