"To me it has seemed years."
"But what are you doing here?" said Alice.
"Rather, what are YOU doing here?" answered Robert.
[EDITOR. I THINK ALICE'S QUESTION WAS THE MORE REASONABLE ONE.]
"My uncle Joseph lives here."
Robert gave a sudden cry.
"Your uncle Joseph! Then I have broken into your uncle Joseph's
house! Alice, send me away! Put me in prison! Do what you will to
me! I can never hold up my head again."
Lady Alice looked gently at the wretched figure in front of her.
"I am glad to see you again," she said. "Because I wanted to say
that it was MY fault!"
"Alice!"
"Can you forgive me?"
"Forgive you? If you knew what my life has been since I left you! If
you knew into what paths of wickedness I have sunk! How only this
evening, unnerved by excess, I have deliberately broken into this
house--your uncle Joseph's house--in order to obtain food. Already I
have eaten more than half a turkey and the best part of a
plum-pudding. If you knew, I--"
With a gesture of infinite compassion she stopped him.
"Then let us forgive each other," she said with a smile. "A new year
is beginning, Robert!"
He took her in his arms.
"Listen," he said.
In the distance the bells began to ring in the New Year. A message
of hope to all weary travellers on life's highway. It was New Year's
Day!
[EDITOR. I THOUGHT CHRISTMAS DAY HAD STARTED ON THE EMBANKMENT. THIS
WOULD BE BOXING DAY. AUTHOR. _I_'M SORRY, BUT IT MUST END LIKE THAT.
_I_ MUST HAVE MY BELLS. YOU CAN EXPLAIN SOMEHOW.
EDITOR. THAT'S ALL VERY WELL. _I_ HAVE A GOOD DEAL TO EXPLAIN AS IT
IS. SOME OF YOUR STORY DOESN'T FIT THE PICTURES AT ALL, AND IT IS
TOO LATE NOW TO GET NEW ONES DONE.