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i, AN OCTAVE OF SHORT STORIES i BY FAMOUS NOVELISTS. No. 2. THE DOVER EXPRESS. BY FLORENCE WARDEN, Atithor of The Fog Princea," The House On the Mnrsh," Pretty Miss Smith," &c, .dLL RIGHTS RESERVED. — XOJV FIRST PUBLISHED. CHAPTER 1. DOWN IN THE WORLIX w VERYBODY k n 0 w a how high btands the reputation of that eminent firm of solici to r s, Messrs. Link and Pogson. E v e r y b o d y 4&d P I fr* knows too { £ ( V,*•' that old u? Mr. Link V.u.iC# >? fir- y has now Xf been dead J VW-' -Y nearly a decade, and that e& two years aco the senior partner was old Mr. Pogson. A very good lawyer, but not so entirely satisfactory a8 a man, Samuel Pogson, cold, practical, and autocratic, was a hard master, feared and disliked by bis subordinates as much as he Was trusted by his clients. Young Mr. Link (who was not so very Y?ung, but whose iron-grey hair looked juve- mle beside the senior partner's white locks) fretted a little under Samuel Pogson's iron rule. lie was little more than a clerk indeed, 80 far as the management of the firm's affairs Was concerned. And if ever he raised his vO!ce against any action of the senior partner's ^hich seemed to him hard and tyrannical, old *°gaon, who did not care what means he used t° gain any object he had in view, would lean back in his chair, like the old fox he was, and beg Mr. Link to remember that in his delicate state of health he could not stand contradic- tion. Mr. Link began to think that "delicate State of health a fraudulent deception. He knew that old Pogson was supposed to suffer froni a weak heart, and was accustomed to hellr it suggested that the old man's real Malady was the want of one. But as the IIpnior partner had arrived safely at the age Of sixty-five, and still seemed to enjoy life vevy thoroughly, there seemed some reason Mr. Link's suspicions. At last an event occurred which caused the Junior partner to throw aside some of his ac- customed deference to the old man's judg- ment. Among their clerks, and quite the bt>èt of them, was a YOUI'g fellow named Clifford Stniple, who had gained Mr. Link's interest and respect by the strenuousness of his efforls to keep a wife and family in comfort out of his modest salary of three pounds ten shillings per week. This would have been compara- tively easy if he had not been a man of edu- cation and refined taste1, and if he had not had the unpardonable imprudence to marry a girl of his own class. .These two creatures had the ridiculous e:tcuse to offer that they loved each other. Two simple-minded, single-hearted beings, young, handsome, devoted; brought up in the improvident luxury characteristic of so many English middle-class homes, they dared to face life together ou a total income of £ 29-5 a year! This magnificent total was reached by the addition to Clifford's earnings of Blanche's income of £ 20 a year. At first, of course, they found little diffi- culty in making it sufficient. They had to live, certainly, in what their old friends would have called au impossible neighbourhood," they bad to s-tve candle ends, and eke out a small supply of cheap furniture with ingenious snake-shifts. But in the morning glow of a happy marriage these things seemed trifles, indeed. Blanche, too, proved upon trial to be clever with her needle, so that her proud husband often expressed a belief, which was luckily not put to the test, that she could have made him a Court suit if he had wanted one. The young wife managed to get a few pupils for music, whose level of refinement and intelligence was as low as the remuneration of their teacher. And for the first year things went merrily indeed. But when the babies came; when a little boy Geoffrey was succeeded by a little boy "Wynne, and he again by a tiny girl, then it was that the powers of their parents' modest means were stretched to the utmost, and that the poor mother's face began to look worn, and a grey tint, the sign of insufficient nourish- ment. to spread o\er Clifford's red-brown (Jf ">flexion. i hen for cheapness they went further and further out of town, and Clifford entered into abstruse calculations as to whether it was best to save twopence by walking two miles of the way to and from the office, or whether the extra wear and tear of his shoes did not more than eat up the sum saved. They managed to be happy, still, in a way; but there grew up a bitterness at the bottom of the heart of each, a rebellion against the severity and hopelessness of the struggle, which found vent sometimes in gloomy silence on the part of the husband, fretful- ness on the part of his wife. Luckily, the cause of their difficulties brought its consola- tion. The children were healthy and happy, just as pretty in their home-made clothes as a rich man's children are in costlier ones, just as delighted with simple toys of papa's manu- facture as they would have been with the handsomest dolls and rocking-horses in Regent-street. And, however badly the father and mother might have felt the pinch of poverty, they succeeded for years in keep- ing its cruel fingers from the tiny throats of the babes. But in the year when the eldest child reached the age of five, a terrible misfortune fell upon them. Clifford Semple fell ill of scarlet fever, and to his wife's great grief he was wise enough to go straight to the hos- pital. Through the kindness of the junior partner of the firm, and much against the inclination of Samuel Pogson, Clifford's salary was paid to his wife during the whole of the time that his illness lasted. This, however, proved to be only the beginning of his trouble. On his recovery he went to the seaside by himself for a short time, hoping against hope that a certain con- sequence of the fever, which now became apparent, would pass away. At the end of a fortnight's holiday, which had brought him neither rest nor pleasure, the unhappy man returned to town, and once more met his children. His wife, who bad had one brief interview with him on his leav- ing the hospital, noticed his gloomy looks, the haggardtiess of his face, the expression of fear in his eyes. She hung about him ten- derly, but he seemed to resent the anxiety he saw in her face, and tried to disengage him- self from her caresses. You are not strong enough to go back to the office yet, Clifford," she said. Let me go up to town and speak to Mr. Link about you. He is always kind and considerate. He will understand; he appreciated your value; and he will persuade Mr. Pogson to keep your post open for you for another week oi two, I am sure." M Clifford, you would >,ever—think of the children, of me," she gulped. And the pOOl' thing threw herself into his arms. tltJ'ew hCi'selJ into lús ((rillS. I But Clifford, who was holding baby Maude on his knee, took no notice of her suggestion. Blanche, who saw that her husband was in an irritable mood, did not at that moment press the point. She thought he wanted to forget his fears about his health in the society of his recovered children. (leoft and Wynne, however, were not long in discovering that "papa was different"; even baby Maude, populaily known as the corn-crake," on account of her peculiarly piercing screams, began to exercise her famous accomplishment before she had been long on his knee, and was removed, shrieking, by her mother. She, too, felt that papa was different," that the pale, thin, grave-faced man was not the merry play-fellow of a few weeks before. The boys began to play by themselves, for they got no answers to the questions they put to their father Blanche took up her needlework with trembling fingers. A gloom fell upon the whole family; the boys made no entreaty for "another ten minutes" when their bedtime came, but kissed their father constrainedly and followed their mother upstairs. What's the niatier with papa, minima ?" asked Geoffrey, the elder and more observant. lie isn't not a bit like what he was before he went away* When I asked him to come and see my wabbits he didn't move, and he didn't answer. He isn't not so nice as he was before he went away.' "S'h-sh! You musn't say that,Geoff. Toor papa has been very ill, very ill, indeed, and he isn't quite well yet even. Don't you see how pale he looks ? When he is quite well again, he will be just the same as ever." But, though Blanche tried to uelieve this herself, her mind was harassed by doubts and fears. There was something wrong about him, something which troubled him, something which he would not confess to her. When the children were in bed, she went downstairs, resolved to try to gain his oonfidence. and share his grief, whatever it might be. He was sitting by the table poring over the evening paper when she re-entered the dining-room. His back was towards the door, and he neither moved nor looked up when she came in. With one yearning look at him, full of doubt and fear, she decided not to disturb him, and drew a chair to the oppo- site side of the table. He started up with an exclamation as he first caught sight of her then with a curious, hang-dog look, as if ashamed of himself, he beut his head again over his paper. Blanche's eyes filled with tears. Unable longer to restrain herself she rose, put her arms round his shoulders, and entreated him to tell her what was troubling him. I can't bear to see you shutting yourself up against me like this. You are brooding over something. I see it. Why don't you tell me what it is ? Why don't you trust me to help you to bear it ? I know I could, oh, 1 know I could. Haven't we always borne everything together ? I was so glad to think that you were coming back that my heart felt bursting with happiness. And now -and now-Ob, won't you tell me ? Perhaps I even guess—and yet-" Indeed, the poor wife thought, as she noticed Clifford's wandering looks and his apparent new and startling indifference to the children and herself, that his mind was unhinged. This impression gained confirma- tion by his answer. "I'm all right, dear," he said. At least I'm nearly all right. Don't you worry your- self. I think I'll go to bed now; I'm tired; and I want to be up at six o'clock in the morning. At six, do you hear? Shake me. rouse me, make me get up at six. mind I've an appointment to keep before I go to the oflice. And don't you worry yourself, dear; there's nothing to trouble about," he added again, kindly, as he left her and went upstairs. But his wife's face grew white with a grave fear, which began to take a definite shape in her mind. Next morning she roused him at six o'clock, said very little to him before he started, and preserved as oheerful a demean- our as she could until he, without any further confidence, and without even the farewell peep at his children in their little beds, which he had never before omitted, left the bouse. At half-past nine o'clock Clifford Semple, haggard, anxious, downcast as a convicted felon, presented himself at the office of Messrs. Link and Pogson, and hastened to seat himself at his old desk with some work which was given to him, after only the brief- est of greetings to his fellow clerks. He did not get on very weli he had to have some- thing explained to him in connection with his work, ahd he did not seem to profit much by the explanation. The other clerks ex- changed significant nods and glances. How- ever he was left to himself until halt-pasi ten, at which time, punctual to the minute, Jld Samuel Pogson arrived at the office. I He frowned as soon as be caught sight of Clifford, who took no notice of his entrance, being apparently too much absorbed in his own work to see or bear anything that was going on around him. Mr. Link was away, and Samuel Pogson, who had bitterly resented having to pay the salary of an absent clerk, resolved to visit Clifford's sin upon him with severity now that his partner was not present to slay his hand. I Well, sir, ar.d so you are back again, I see ? he began in an ominously dry tone. Clifford, however, took no notice. lie did not even turn round, until a fellow-clerk managed, unseen, to kick his foot. Then the unfortunate young man jumped off his stool, reddening violently. Wonderful absorption said Mr, Pogson sarcastically. I am much obliged to you, sir, for your kindness to us during my illness," began Clifford in a low voice. I am glad to hear it. What are you doing now ?" Clifford was nervously watching his em- ployer's lips, lie did not answer. "Well, what—are—you—doing—now ? Can't you understand a plain question r" The clerk who sat nearest to Clifford moved uneasily, but he could not make up bis mind to dare to interpose, being afraid of making matters worse for hia unlucky neighbour. Clifford made nervous movements with his hands, but still he made no reply. A confi- dential attendant, a hard-faced man named Page, who accompanied Mr. Pogson wherever he went, felt called upon, at this stage, to venture a remonstrance. Mr. Pogson is not very well this morning, Mr. Semple. Pray don't keep him standing here," he said in his low, cold, respectful voioe. But still Clifford appeared to take no heed. Go into mv office. I wish to speak to you privately, Mr. Semple," said his employer. He had to repeat his words be- fore Clifford, seeming suddenly to awaken to comprehension, followed the direction of the old man's eyes, and hastily obeyed, lie stood with dull eyes and a bewildered manner before the senior partner, who entered, followed by the ob- sequious Page. I should like to have some explanation of your extraordinary behaviour this morn- ing, Mr. Semple," began old Pogson, majesti- cally. Clifford looked up at him, grew red and white again, and then asked in a low voice, Could I speak to Mr. Link a moment, sir ?" Not at present, certainly. Mr. Link is at Pontresina." Clifford followed the motions of the old man's lips attentively. Noting the shake of the head with which these words were accom- panied, he hung his head and grew dejected again. "So your explanation, if you have one, must be given to'me," went on Samuel Pogson, as he allowed his 'attendant to take off the overcoat whioh, even in summer, he always wore. Well, what have you to say f be asked, testily, as he still received no response. Then, raising his voice in indignation, he continued in a high tone, I expect an ex- planation, I say. Are you deaf ? Clifford looked up despairingly. Yes, sir," he answered, having just caught the last word, I am deaf since my illness— almost stone deaf." a Samuel Pogson looked surprised, but not displeased. Now he had an excuse for get'ing rid of a man against whom his enforced gene- rosity had given him a grudge. In that case," he said, coming nearer to the young man, and speaking loudly in his ear, Of course we shall have to dispense with your services. I am sorry, exceedingly sorry, so, no doubt, will Mr. Link be, but a deaf clerk is not of the slightest use in this office. I will give you a week's salary. You shall not have the slightest reason for thinking your- self ill-used; but you need not come here again." But, sir," stammered Clifford, who had heard enough of this speech to understand its whole import, Ió I consulted a physician this morning, and he says this deafness will be ouly temporary—only temporary, sir. lean bring you his written opinion." "I don't want his opinion, What's his opinion to me ? Only, sir, that you might give me another chance. I know the work of your oflice so well that I can be of almost as much use as ever. When you speak loudly, you see, loan hear quite well." We couldn't keep our voices always for your benefit at the pitch I am keeping mine now. We should all be hoarse in a week." Won't you keep me on, sir. for such work as I can do. at any salary you think I-am worth, until my hearing gets all right again P "No. You can come back when it is al! right." But, sir, in the meantime, no one will take on a deaf clerk." Then why should I P I've been here seven years, sir— "Getting a good salary, which has been raised more than once. Paid your salary, too, for weeks while you were away." Clifford could bear no more. "For which I am very gratefol-to Mr. Link, he said. Old Pogson, who gave himself as many airs as an elderly beauty, sank back in his arm- chair, as if exhausted by the interview. The attentive Page ordered Clifford to leave the room, and the poor fellow was hustled out. The head clerk gave him a compassionate hand-squeeze as he put into his hand the little packet containing his week's salary, which Pogson had sent out. Mr. Link will be back in six weeks," said the head clerk in his ear, "I'll take care to tell him all about it as soon as he comes, and he'll have you back, never fear." Six weeks murmured the unhappy man as he left the office, and opening the little packet in his hand. These four sovereigns would not go far, and the savings he had been able to make on his salary were very small. Perhaps, too, even Mr. Link's influence would not suffice to re- instate him, in the face of Pogson's prejudice. As for getting work elsewhere to bring him anything near k200 a year, that, with his present disadvantage, was, he felt, impossible. And so it proved. Day after day he answered letters, he made personal application for situation after situation. Day after day he went through the same wearisome round, meeting shrug, head-shaking refusal. Only the brave hopefulness of his wife, who had guessed what his misfortune was before he would confess it, saved him from, utter pair. He made a little money by law-copy- ing, and these slender means Blanche supple- mented by various efforts, not disdaining the humble and unremunerative plain sewifffc when it came in her way. They had even to let rooms in their miserable little jerry-built home, a recourse which hurt Clifford's pride more than any of the rest. But the sum total of their meagre earnings was insufficient for their bare expenses, and presently both husbar.d and wife saw with fright that under this regime of enforced economy the children were beginning to »uff< r. By this time the winter was approach- ing, and the thought of the privation his wife and children would have to suffer, with insufficient food and warmth, brought Clifford to the verge of madness. Blanche was shocked one evening on coming into the little apartment which now did duty for drawing-room, dining-room, and study to find Clifford examining, with an air of the deepest interest, some object which he held in his hand. Although he had not recovered his hearing, he generally knew by some instinct when his wife came into the room. On this occasion he turned abruptly to meet her, trying to hide what it was which en- grossed his attention. But she, with white eager face, being always on the alert for fresh misfortune, would not be satisfied until she had seen it. And it was a revolver. Her eyes met his, and saw a stealthy look of shamefaced avoidance which filled her with horror. She could not speak coherently; her utterance was choked. Clifford you would never—think of the children, of me," she gulped. And the poor thing threw herself into his arms. He laughed loud and boisterously. He could always hear, or at least, understand her. Nonsense, nonsense, dear, what are you thinking about f" cried he, with a miserable attempt at assumed amusement. "This is young Barclay's; he brought it in for me to see. It's a first-rate one; he bought it second-band-A great bargain." Let me take it back to him, then. I don't know what young men want with such things, said his wife tartly. She took it almost by force from his hand, and put it back in the lodger's room; and she did not forget the next time she spoke to the young fellow to reprove him &harpiy for having suoh nasty, dangerous things about— m—in a house where there were children. The weary weeks dragged on until the middle of October, when the crisis came at last. Clifford could bear no longer the pinched look he began to see in the faces of his children, One last, desperate attempt he must make to see Mr. Link. The junior

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partner must, he knew, have returned to England long before this, but on the two occasions when be had tried to see him be bad been told at the office door, not unkindly, but firmly, by the old head clerk, that Mr. Link was not there. A letter he had sent, detailing his misfortune and asking if there was any chance of re-instatement for him, received no answer. On this occasion however, he presented himself at the office with a dogged resolve to get at least a hearing. By iil-luck, the moment of his arrival was the most unpro- pitious possible. Half-past five was the hour at which the junior partner was in the habit of leaving the office, and at half-past five, therefore, regardless of the assurances of the clerks that Mr. Link was not there, Clifford insisted on placing himself in the outer office in such a place that the junior partner could not fail to see him when, as he expected, that gentleman should open the door of the inner office to come out. The clerks did their best to persu: de him from his purpose; but they dared not raise their voices high enough to make him hear, for fear of the autocrat in the adjoining room. At last, however, the head- clerk seized by the arm and said quickly in bis ear that Mr. Pogson would be coming out in a momsnt; that he was going to start for the Continent by the eight o'clock express, and that surely he knew Mr. Pogson better than to worry him with expostulations on the eve of a journey for on these occa- sions anxiety for his own safety always made the old gentleman especially testy. Even if ( liirord had consented to retreat he had no time. At that moment the door of the inner office opened, and Samuel Pogsori stood before him. The old gentleman stopped short, with an exclamation which was eloquent to the experienced ears of those present. Oh, so you've turned up again, have you ?" he cried, not forgetting to raise his voioe so that the afflicted man should hear. You're not content with the snubs you have received here already? You wish, perhaps, to drive me to get protection from the nuisance through the police court ? I've come, sir, to ask you again to give me another chance." He spoke out firmly, almost loudly, being past caring for the num- ber of witnesses to his humiliation. I'm sure you know, sir, that I would not have come here agaiu to ask anything of you if I could help it. But I cannot earn enough to -to keep going; you could afford to pay me more than I can earn anywhere else, and yet be no loser. I understand the work, as you know, sir, after seven years. There is only my deafness against me; in every other respect I am just the man I waa." But this was not true. The sunken eyes, the hollow cheeks, the pitiful air with which the poor fellow tried to carry off bis fallen state betrayed him. If you would. only try me, sir, for a week," he went on, my children He stopped short. On that subject he could not have gone on without some demonstra- tion which his remaining self-respect for- bade. There was scarcely another man in the room who had not a lump in his throat when Clifford stopped. Old Pogson alone, and his obsequious attendant, Page, seemed unmoved except to further indignation. Page, who was laden with rugs and small luggage, frowned at Clifford and held out his hand warningly. The senior partner gave a sarcastic grunt. Children r' said he. "People have no business to biing children into the world when they haven't a safe income to keep them on. If you choose to saddle yourself with such responsibilities it is your look out, not mine." With an instant's pause for breath to give greater emphasis to his concluding words, he went on, Understand, I don't want a deaf clerk. No and Mr. Link doesn't want a deaf clerk. So it will not be of the least use for you to come sneaking up here to- morrow, thinking that when the old man s gone the coast will be clear, for I've left ex- plicit instructions upon this point, which will be carried out if I'm in Jamaica. Jamaica, do you hear ?" Yes, sir," said Clifford. The old man had not finished his harangue. But the young one had heard enough. A new infirmity seemed to have come upon him. He turned, and stumbled against the table on his way to the door. Without another word, either of entreaty or farewell, he staggered quickly out, and ran down the stairs into the street. For once Samuel Pogson was disconcerted. He ma3 a cross-grained, overbearing* tyran- nical old brute, who liked his own way, and would have it. But he was not heartless, be was not insensible to suffering, though he liked to see a little of it in the faces of people who had crossed his will. The manner in which Clifford Semple had taken his depar- ture gave him an exceedingly unpleasant sen- sation. lie had meant to bully him for another ten minutes; and then, having rendered his victim utterly abject, to have extended to him the clemency which other- wise his partner would get the credit of on the morrow. And now the hot-headed young idiot had gone off, leaving a very uncomfort- able impresskin behind. Old Pogson affected to ignore this, how- evef, and turned with extra sharpness to hia attendant. Send me a cab, quick," he said. This young cub's insolence has upset me, excited me. I feel quite ill." Yes, sir. 1 don't wonder, sir. I'm sur- prised, Mr. Semple, after all these years of your kindness, didn't know better what he was about, sir." Samuel Pogson, under pretence of taking from the man's hand one of his numerous wraps, looked sbarply into his face, to see whether this was a touch 0' unaccustomed sarcasm. For his conscience was not clear. But Page's conscience was. It was part ot his duty to flatter his master, and to humour his whims and an opinio'} CK IS own was a luxury he never allowed himself. "I shall just have time to dme comfortj