I 'ad Wilkins.

Better than Kedge, I think: Kedge's mutes dresses rusty, an' their trousis is frayed. If you was thinkin' of 'avin' mutes

"Yus, yus," with a palsied nodding" I'm a-goin' to 'ave mutes: I can do it respectable, thank Gawd!" "And the plooms?"

"Ay, yus, an' the plooms too. They ain't sich a great expense, after all."

THE HOUSE OPPOSITE

By Anthony Hope

Anthony Hope Hawkins (1863- ) is a London lawyer, educated at Oxford. A few years ago he became suddenly famous as the author of the romantic popular novels, The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau. The House Opposite is from the volume of stories entitled The Dolly Dialogues.

We were talking over the sad case of young Algy Groom; I was explaining to Mrs. Hilary exactly what had happened.

"His father gave him," said I," a hundred pounds, to keep him for three months in Paris while he learnt French."

"And very liberal too," said Mrs. Hilary. "It depends where you dine," said I. "However, that question did not arise, for Algy went to the Grand Prix the day after he arrived

"A horse-race?" asked Mrs. Hilary, with great contempt.

66

Certainly, the competitors are horses," I rejoined. "And there he, most unfortunately, lost the whole sum, without learning any French to speak of."

"How disgusting!" exclaimed Mrs. Hilary, and little Miss Phyllis gasped in horror.

Oh, well," said Hilary, with much bravery (as it struck me), "his father's very well off."

* Reprinted by permission from The Dolly Dialogues. Copyright 1901 by Henry Holt and Company.

"That doesn't make it a bit better," declared his wife. "There's no mortal sin in a little betting, my dear. Boys will be boys-"

66

And even that," I interposed, "wouldn't matter if we could only prevent girls from being girls."

Mrs. Hilary, taking no notice whatever of me, pronounced sentence. "He grossly deceived his father," she said, and took up her embroidery.

"Most of us have grossly deceived our parents before now," said I. "We should all have to confess to some

thing of the sort.'

66

"I hope you're speaking for your own sex," observed Mrs. Hilary.

66

" said I.

Not more than yours, 66 You used to meet Hilary on the pier when your father wasn't there — you

told me so.

"Father had authorized my acquaintance with Hilary."

"I hate quibbles," said I.

There was a pause. Mrs. Hilary stitched: Hilary observed that the day was fine.

"Now," I pursued carelessly, "even Miss Phyllis here has been known to deceive her parents."

"Oh, let the poor child alone, anyhow," said Mrs. Hilary.

"Haven't you?" said I to Miss Phyllis.

I expected an indignant denial. So did Mrs. Hilary, for she remarked with a sympathetic air:

"Never mind his folly, Phyllis dear."

"Haven't you, Miss Phyllis?" said I.

Miss Phyllis grew very red. Fearing that I was causing her pain, I was about to observe on the prospects

of a Dissolution when a shy smile spread over Miss Phyllis' face.

"Yes, once," said she, with a timid glance at Mrs. Hilary, who immediately laid down her embroidery. "Out with it!" I cried triumphantly. "Come along, Miss Phyllis. We won't tell, honor bright!

Miss Phyllis looked again at Mrs. Hilary. Mrs. Hilary is human.

"Well, Phyllis dear," said she, "after all this time I shouldn't think it my duty-"

"It only happened last summer," said Miss Phyllis. Mrs. Hilary looked rather put out.

66

66

Still," she began.

We must have the story," said I.

Little Miss Phyllis put down the sock she had been knitting.

"I was very naughty," she remarked.

last term at school."

"I know that age," said I to Hilary.

"It was my

My window looked out toward the street. You're sure you won't tell? Well, there was a house oppo

site

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And a young man in it,” said I.

"How did you know that?" asked Miss Phyllis, blushing immensely.

"No girls' school can keep up its numbers without one," I explained.

"Well, there was, anyhow," said Miss Phyllis. "And I and two other girls went to a course of lectures at the Town Hall on literature or something of that kind. We used to have a shilling given us for our tickets."

Precisely," said I. "A hundred pounds!

No, a shilling," corrected Miss Phyllis. "A hundred pounds! How absurb, Mr. Carter! Well, one day T—I—”

"You're sure you wish to go on,

Mrs. Hilary.

Phyllis?' asked

"You're afraid, Mrs. Hilary," said I, severely. "Nonsense, Mr. Carter. I thought Phyllis might "

66

I don't mind going on," said Miss Phyllis, smiling. "One day I - I lost the other girls."

"The other girls are always easy to lose," I observed. "And on the way there - oh, you know, he went to the lectures."

“The young dog," said I, nudging Hilary. “I should think he did!

66

"On the way there it became rather rather foggy.' Blessings on it!" I cried; for little Miss Phyllis' demure but roguish expression delighted me.

"And he - he found me in the fog.'

"What are you doing, Mr. Carter?" cried Mrs. Hilary, angrily.

66

Nothing, nothing," said I. I believe I had winked at Hilary.

"And — and we couldn't find the Town Hall."

"Oh, Phyllis!" groaned Mrs. Hilary.

Little Miss Phyllis looked alarmed for a moment. Then she smiled.

"But we found the confectioner's," said she.

"The Grand Prix," said I, pointing my forefinger at Hilary.

"He had no money at all," said Miss Phyllis.