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friend。 〃His latest；〃 said he now； 〃is to send David a rocking…
horse！〃
I must say I could see no reason for his mirth。 〃Picture it；〃
said he； 〃a rocking…horse for a child not three months old！〃
I was about to say fiercely： 〃The stirrups are adjustable；〃 but
thought it best to laugh with him。 But I was pained to hear that
Mary had laughed； though heaven knows I have often laughed at
her。
〃But women are odd；〃 he said unexpectedly； and explained。 It
appears that in the middle of her merriment Mary had become grave
and said to him quite haughtily； 〃I see nothing to laugh at。〃
Then she had kissed the horse solemnly on the nose and said； 〃I
wish he was here to see me do it。〃 There are moments when one
cannot help feeling a drawing to Mary。
But moments only； for the next thing he said put her in a
particularly odious light。 He informed me that she had sworn to
hunt Mr。 Anon down。
〃She won't succeed；〃 I said； sneering but nervous。
〃Then it will be her first failure；〃 said he。
〃But she knows nothing about the man。〃
〃You would not say that if you heard her talking of him。 She
says he is a gentle； whimsical； lonely old bachelor。〃
〃Old？〃 I cried。
〃Well； what she says is that he will soon be old if he doesn't
take care。 He is a bachelor at all events； and is very fond of
children； but has never had one to play with。〃
〃Could not play with a child though there was one；〃 I said
brusquely； 〃has forgotten the way； could stand and stare only。〃
〃Yes； if the parents were present。 But he thinks that if he were
alone with the child he could come out strong。〃
〃How the deuce〃 I began
〃That is what she says；〃 he explained； apologetically。 〃I think
she will prove to be too clever for him。〃
〃Pooh；〃 I said； but undoubtedly I felt a dizziness； and the next
time I met him he quite frightened me。 〃Do you happen to know
any one；〃 he said； 〃who has a St。 Bernard dog？〃
〃No；〃 said I； picking up my stick。
〃He has a St。 Bernard dog。〃
〃How have you found that out？〃
〃She has found it out。〃
〃But how？〃
〃I don't know。〃
I left him at once； for Porthos was but a little way behind me。
The mystery of it scared me； but I armed promptly for battle。 I
engaged a boy to walk Porthos in Kensington Gardens； and gave him
these instructions： 〃Should you find yourself followed by a young
woman wheeling a second…hand perambulator； instantly hand her
over to the police on the charge of attempting to steal the dog。〃
Now then； Mary。
〃By the way；〃 her husband said at our next meeting； 〃that
rocking… horse I told you of cost three guineas。〃
〃She has gone to the shop to ask？〃
〃No； not to ask that； but for a description of the purchaser's
appearance。〃
Oh； Mary； Mary。
Here is the appearance of purchaser as supplied at the Arcade：
looked like a military gentleman； tall； dark； and rather dressy；
fine Roman nose （quite so）； carefully trimmed moustache going
grey （not at all）； hair thin and thoughtfully distributed over
the head like fiddlestrings； as if to make the most of it （pah！）；
dusted chair with handkerchief before sitting down on it； and had
other oldmaidish ways （I should like to know what they are）；
tediously polite； but no talker； bored face； age forty…five if a
day （a lie）； was accompanied by an enormous yellow dog with sore
eyes。 （They always think the haws are sore eyes。）
〃Do you know anyone who is like that？〃 Mary's husband asked me
innocently。
〃My dear man；〃 I said； 〃I know almost no one who is not like
that；〃 and it was true； so like each other do we grow at the
club。 I was pleased； on the whole； with this talk； for it at
least showed me how she had come to know of the St。 Bernard； but
anxiety returned when one day from behind my curtains I saw Mary
in my street with an inquiring eye on the windows。 She stopped a
nurse who was carrying a baby and went into pretended ecstasies
over it。 I was sure she also asked whether by any chance it was
called Timothy。 And if not； whether that nurse knew any other
nurse who had charge of a Timothy。
Obviously Mary suspicioned me； but nevertheless； I clung to
Timothy； though I wished fervently that I knew more about him；
for I still met that other father occasionally； and he always
stopped to compare notes about the boys。 And the questions he
asked were so intimate； how Timothy slept； how he woke up； how he
fell off again； what we put in his bath。 It is well that dogs
and little boys have so much in common； for it was really of
Porthos I told him； how he slept （peacefully）； how he woke up
（supposed to be subject to dreams）； how he fell off again （with
one little hand on his nose）； but I glided past what we put in
his bath （carbolic and a mop）。
The man had not the least suspicion of me； and I thought it
reasonable to hope that Mary would prove as generous。 Yet was I
straitened in my mind。 For it might be that she was only biding
her time to strike suddenly； and this attached me the more to
Timothy； as if I feared she might soon snatch him from me。 As
was indeed to be the case。
VI
A Shock
It was on a May day； and I saw Mary accompany her husband as far
as the first crossing； whence she waved him out of sight as if he
had boarded an Atlantic…liner。 All this time she wore the face
of a woman happily married who meant to go straight home； there
to await her lord's glorious return； and the military…looking
gentleman watching her with a bored smile saw nothing better
before him than a chapter on the Domestic Felicities。 Oh； Mary；
can you not provide me with the tiniest little plot？
Hallo！
No sooner was she hid from him than she changed into another
woman； she was now become a calculating purposeful madam； who
looked around her covertly and； having shrunk in size in order to
appear less noticeable； set off nervously on some mysterious
adventure。
〃The deuce！〃 thought I； and followed her。
Like one anxious to keep an appointment； she frequently consulted
her watch； looking long at it； as if it were one of those watches
that do not give up their secret until you have made a mental
calculation。 Once she kissed it。 I had always known that she
was fond of her cheap little watch； which he gave her； I think；
on the day I dropped the letter； but why kiss it in the street？
Ah； and why then replace it so hurriedly in your leather…belt；
Mary； as if it were guilt to you to kiss to…day； or any day； the
watch your husband gave you？
It will be seen that I had made a very rapid journey from light
thoughts to uneasiness。 I wanted no plot by the time she reached
her destination； a street of tawdry shops。 She entered none of
them； but paced slowly and shrinking from observation up and down
the street； a very figure of shame； and never had I thought to
read shame in the sweet face of Mary A。 Had I crossed to her
and pronounced her name I think it would have felled her； and yet
she remained there； waiting。 I； too； was waiting for him；
wondering if this was the man； or this； or this； and I believe I
clutched my stick。
Did I suspect Mary？ Oh； surely not for a moment of time。 But
there was some foolishness here； she was come without the
knowledge of her husband； as her furtive manner indicated； to a
meeting she dreaded and was ashamed to tell him of； she was come
into danger； then it must be to save； not herself but him； the
folly to be concealed could never have been Mary's。 Yet what
could have happened in the past of that honest boy from the
consequences of which she might shield him by skulking here？
Could that laugh of his have survived a dishonour？ The open
forehead； the curly locks； the pleasant smile； the hundred
ingratiating ways which we carry with us out of childhood； they
may all remain when the innocence has fled； but surely the laugh
of the morning of life must go。 I have never known the devil
retain his grip on that。
But Mary was still waiting。 She was no longer beautiful； shame
had possession of her face； she was an ugly woman。 Then the
entanglement was her husband's； and I cursed him for it。 But
without conviction； for； after all； what did I know of women？ I
have some distant memories of them； some vain inventions。 But of
menI have known one man indifferent well for over forty years；
have exulted in him （odd to think of it）； shuddered at him；
wearied of him； been willing （God forgive me） to jog along with
him tolerantly long after I have found him out； I know something
of men； and； on my soul； boy； I believe I am wronging you。
Then Mary is here for some innocent purpose； to do a good deed
that were better undone； as it so scares her。 Turn back； you
foolish； soft heart； and I shall say no more about it。 Obstinate
one； you saw the look on your husband's face as he left you。 It
is the studio ligh