A Damsel in Distress - Page 71/173

George opened the letter with trembling and reverent fingers.

"DEAR MR. BEVAN, "Thank you ever so much for your note, which Albert gave

to me. How very, very kind. . ."

"Hey, mister!"

George looked up testily. The boy Albert had reappeared.

"What's the matter? Can't you find the cake?"

"I've found the kike," rejoined Albert, adducing proof of the

statement in the shape of a massive slice, from which he took a

substantial bite to assist thought. "But I can't find the ginger

ile."

George waved him away. This interruption at such a moment was

annoying.

"Look for it, child, look for it! Sniff after it! Bay on its trail!

It's somewhere about."

"Wri'!" mumbled Albert through the cake. He flicked a crumb off his

cheek with a tongue which would have excited the friendly interest

of an ant-eater. "I like ginger-ile."

"Well, go and bathe in it."

"Wri'!"

George returned to his letter.

"DEAR MR. BEVAN, "Thank you ever so much for your note, which Albert gave

to me. How very, very kind of you to come here like this and

to say . . .

"Hey, mister!"

"Good Heavens!" George glared. "What's the matter now? Haven't you

found that ginger-ale yet?"

"I've found the ginger-ile right enough, but I can't find the

thing."

"The thing? What thing?"

"The thing. The thing wot you open ginger-ile with."

"Oh, you mean the thing? It's in the middle drawer of the dresser.

Use your eyes, my boy!"

"Wri'".

George gave an overwrought sigh and began the letter again.

"DEAR MR. BEVAN, "Thank you ever so much for your note which Albert gave

to me. How very, very kind of you to come here like this and

to say that you would help me. And how clever of you to

find me after I was so secretive that day in the cab! You

really can help me, if you are willing. It's too long to

explain in a note, but I am in great trouble, and there is

nobody except you to help me. I will explain everything

when I see you. The difficulty will be to slip away from

home. They are watching me every moment, I'm afraid. But I

will try my hardest to see you very soon.

Yours sincerely,

"MAUD MARSH."

Just for a moment it must be confessed, the tone of the letter

damped George. He could not have said just what he had expected,

but certainly Reggie's revelations had prepared him for something

rather warmer, something more in the style in which a girl would

write to the man she loved. The next moment, however, he saw how

foolish any such expectation had been. How on earth could any

reasonable man expect a girl to let herself go at this stage of the

proceedings? It was for him to make the first move. Naturally she

wasn't going to reveal her feelings until he had revealed his.