Bradshaw as though she werealready his mother-in-law, produced the money. His instructions as toeconomy lasted almost up to the moment when he stood with Bella outsidethe shop on the following evening and watched the couple go off.
"It's wonderful how well they get on together," said Bella, as theyre-entered the shop and passed into the parlour. "I've never seen mothertake to anybody so quick as she has to him."
"I hope you like him, too," said Mr. Wright.
"He's a dear," said Bella. "Fancy having all that money. I wonder whatit feels like?"
"I suppose I shall know some day," said the young man, slowly; "but itwon't be much good to me unless----"
"Unless?" said Bella, after a pause.
"Unless it gives me what I want," replied the other. "I'd sooner be apoor man and married to the girl I love, than a millionaire."
Miss Bradshaw stole an uneasy glance at his somewhat sallow features, andbecame thoughtful.
"It's no good having diamonds and motor-cars and that sort of thingunless you have somebody to share them with," pursued Mr. Wright.
Miss Bradshaw's eyes sparkled, and at that moment the shop-bell tinkledand a lively whistle sounded. She rose and went into the shop, and Mr.Wright settled back in his chair and scowled darkly as he saw theintruder.
"Good evening," said the latter. "I want a sixpenny smoke for twopence,please. How are we this evening? Sitting up and taking nourishment?"
Miss Bradshaw told him to behave himself.
"Always do," said the young man. "That's why I can never get anybody toplay with. I had such an awful dream about you last night that Icouldn't rest till I saw you. Awful it was."
"What was it?" inquired Miss Bradshaw.
"Dreamt you were married," said Mr. Hills, smiling at her.
Miss Bradshaw tossed her head. "Who to, pray?" she inquired.
"Me," said Mr. Hills, simply. "I woke up in a cold perspiration.Halloa! is that Georgie in there? How are you, George? Better?"
"I'm all right," said Mr. Wright, with dignity, as the other hooked thedoor open with his stick and nodded at him.
"Well, why don't you look it?" demanded the lively Mr. Hills. "Have yougot your feet wet, or what?"
"Oh, be quiet," said Miss Bradshaw, smiling at him.
"Right-o," said Mr. Hills, dropping into a chair by the counter andcaressing his moustache. "But you wouldn't speak to me like that if youknew what a terrible day I've had."
"What have you been doing?" asked the girl.
"Working," said the other, with a huge sigh. "Where's the millionaire?I came round on purpose to have a look at him."
"Him and mother have gone to the Empire?" said Miss Bradshaw.
Mr. Hills gave three long, penetrating whistles, and then, placing hiscigar with great care on the counter, hid his face in a hugehandkerchief. Miss Bradshaw, glanced from him to the frowning Mr.Wright, and then, entering the parlour, closed the door with a bang. Mr.Hills took the hint, and with a somewhat thoughtful grin departed.
He came in next evening for another cigar, and heard all that there wasto hear about the Empire. Mrs. Bradshaw would have treated him butcoldly, but the innocent Mr. Kemp, charmed by his manner, paid him greatattention.
"He's just like what I was at his age," he said. "Lively."
"I'm not a patch on you," said Mr. Hills, edging his way by slow degreesinto the parlour. "I don't take young ladies to the Empire. Were youtelling me you came over here to get married, or did I dream it?"
"'Ark at him," said the blushing Mr. Kemp, as Mrs. Bradshaw shook herhead at the offender and told him to behave himself.
"He's a man any woman might be happy with," said Mr. Hills. "He neverknows how much there is in his trousers-pocket. Fancy sewing on buttonsfor a man like that. Gold-mining ain't in it."
Mrs. Bradshaw shook her head at him again, and Mr. Hills, afterapologizing to her for revealing her innermost thoughts before the mostguileless of men, began to question Mr. Kemp as to the prospects of abright and energetic young man, with a distaste for work, in New Zealand.The audience listened with keen attention to the replies, the onlydisturbing factor being a cough of Mr. Wright's, which became more andmore troublesome as the evening wore on. By the time uncle and nephewrose to depart the latter was so hoarse that he could scarcely speak.
"Why didn't you tell 'em you had got a letter calling you home, as I toldyou?" he vociferated, as soon as they were clear of the shop.
"I--I forgot it," said the old man.
"Forgot it!" repeated the incensed Mr. Wright.
"What did you think I was coughing like that for--fun?"
"I forgot it," said the old man, doggedly. "Besides, if you take myadvice, you'd better let me stay a little longer to make sure of things."
Mr. Wright laughed disagreeably. "I dare say," he said; "but I ammanaging this affair, not you. Now, you go round to-morrow afternoon andtell them you're off. D'ye hear? D'ye think I'm made of money? Andwhat do you mean by making such a fuss of that fool, Charlie Hills? Youknow he is after Bella."
He walked the rest of the way home in indignant silence, and, aftergiving minute instructions to Mr. Kemp next morning at breakfast, wentoff to work in a more cheerful frame of mind. Mr. Kemp was out when hereturned, and after making his toilet he followed him to Mrs. Bradshaw's.
To his annoyance, he found Mr. Hills there again; and, moreover, it soonbecame clear to him that Mr. Kemp had said nothing about his approachingdeparture. Coughs and scowls passed unheeded, and at last in ahesitating voice, he broached the subject himself. There was a generalchorus of lamentation.
"I hadn't got the heart to tell you," said Mr. Kemp. "I don't know whenI've been so happy."
"But you haven't got to go back immediate," said Mrs. Bradshaw.
"To-morrow," said Mr. Wright, before the old man could reply."Business."
"Must you go," said Mrs. Bradshaw.
Mr. Kemp smiled feebly. "I suppose I ought to," he replied, in ahesitating voice.
"Take my tip and give yourself a bit of a holiday before you go back,"urged Mr. Hills.
"Just for a few days," pleaded Bella.
"To please us," said Mrs. Bradshaw. "Think 'ow George'll miss you."
"Lay hold of him and don't let him go," said Mr. Hills.
He took Mr. Kemp round the waist, and the laughing Bella and her mothereach secured an arm. An appeal to Mr. Wright to secure his legs passedunheeded.
"We don't let you go till you promise," said Mrs. Bradshaw.
Mr. Kemp smiled and shook his head. "Promise?" said Bella.
"Well, well," said Mr. Kemp; "p'r'aps--"
"He must go back," shouted the alarmed Mr. Wright.
"Let him speak for himself," exclaimed Bella, indignantly.
"Just another week then," said Mr. Kemp. "It's no good having money if Ican't please myself."
"A week!" shouted Mr. Wright, almost beside himself with rage and dismay."A week! Another week! Why, you told me----"
"Oh, don't listen to him," said Mrs. Bradshaw. "Croaker! It's his ownbusiness, ain't it? And he knows best, don't he? What's it got to dowith you?"
She patted Mr. Kemp's hand; Mr. Kemp patted back, and with his disengagedhand helped himself to a glass of beer--the fourth--and beamed in afriendly fashion upon the company.
"George!" he said, suddenly.
"Yes," said Mr. Wright, in a harsh voice.
"Did you think to bring my pocket-book along with you?"
"No," said Mr. Wright, sharply; "I didn't."
"Tt-tt," said the old man, with a gesture of annoyance. "Well, lend me acouple of pounds, then, or else run back and fetch my pocket-book," headded, with a sly grin.
Mr. Wright's face worked with impotent fury. "What--what--do you--wantit for?" he gasped.
Mrs. Bradshaw's "Well! Well!" seemed to sum up the general feeling; Mr.Kemp, shaking his head, eyed him with gentle reproach.
"Me and Mrs. Bradshaw are going to gave anothe
r evening out," he said,quietly. "I've only got a few more days, and I must make hay while thesun shines."
To Mr. Wright the room seemed to revolve slowly on its axis, but,regaining his self-possession by a supreme effort, he took out his purseand produced the amount. Mrs. Bradshaw, after a few feminineprotestations,