BREAD UPON THE WATERS
Although so recently returned to the House of Commons, Robert Spencer
has already made his mark; discerning judges on both sides of the
House prophesy that ere long he will become a power in the State. If
he does he will owe his success in no slight measure to his wife. Few
things help a man more than a happy marriage; about the happiness of
his marriage there can be no question. His wife is one of the
loveliest women in London; one of the most charming, in the best sense
of the word. All decent folk are proud to know she is their friend;
the other sort know she is not their enemy. She has help and sympathy
for all.
Peter Piper's Popular Pills still belong to Nora. Mr. Clifford not
only continues to manage them; he has a share in the fruits of their
prosperity. He was married on the appointed day, to Miss Ross's
relief. Nora and Mr. Spencer were both present at the wedding, and Mr.
Hooper was the groom's best man. The honeymoon tour was carried out on
the lines originally planned. Nothing was done in the business of the
forged bills. When matters were explained to Nora she insisted that
nothing should be done. Probably hers was the part of wisdom; it is
difficult to see how good would have resulted. Sir Henry Trevor still
continues vanished; but it seems not unlikely that he is flourishing
somewhere on the other side of the world. Occasionally remittances are
received, sometimes for considerable sums, posted from different towns
on the American continent, in envelopes which contain, beside the
remittances, nothing but a half-sheet of paper, on which is always the
same line, "Towards the discharge of a debt due to Donald Lindsay's
estate." The inference is that these amounts come from Sir Henry
Trevor, who has chosen this method of salving an obligation of which
he alone knows the precise history.
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Nash are in Canada, where they have not done
badly. Nash is an honest and hard-working man; if anything, a trifle
hard and stern. His wife is a good mistress of his home. She is the
mother of three children. It is her continual prayer that they may not
be led into temptation, but delivered from evil.
Stephen Morgan died in a London hospital on the day before Frank
Clifford was married. He was knocked down by a motor omnibus. When he
was taken to the hospital he was already unconscious, and already
dying. On his return to consciousness, he was plainly near the end.
With what seemed to be almost his last breath he begged that they
would send for Mr. Clifford. Before, however, Mr. Clifford reached the
hospital, he was dead. His ill deeds died with him.
Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have a house in the country, but not at
Cloverlea. Nora had no desire to renew associations which had suffered
so severe an interruption. The lodge at the gate of the new house is
in the occupation of Mrs. Gibb and Miss Gibb--Angel Gibb. Miss Gibb is
engaged to the second gardener. A question has lately arisen as to
whether, on the occasion of their approaching marriage, he shall go
and live with his wife and her mother, or whether his wife and her
mother shall come and live with him. The point has been referred by
both parties to Mrs. Spencer, who finds it rather a difficult one to
decide.
Mr. Gibb is still with Mr. Hooper. He reports that business is looking
up. It is a fact that of late several briefs have found their way into
Mr. Hooper's hands. It is whispered that he is indebted for them to
influence in certain quarters. However that may be, it is beyond doubt
that he has handled them as well as could possibly be desired.
THE END
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_Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, London and Bungay_