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know this： for if I have been anything to you； you have been a great deal
to me。 I have never met with much sympathy from those of my own age： I
have found them narrow and unyielding； and they found me dull and
uninteresting。 They had passed through few experiences and knew nothing
about failure or success； and some of them did not even understand the
earnestness of endeavour； and laughed at me when I spoke of a high ideal。
So I withdrew into myself； and should probably have grown still more
isolated than I was before； but that I met you； and； as time went on； we
became friends。 I shall always remember your teaching； and I will try to
keep to a high ideal of life and art and endeavour； and I will not let despair
creep into my heart； and I will not lose my faith in humanity。〃
As she spoke a lingering ray of sunshine lit up her face and gently
caressed her soft brown hair； slight though her form； sombre her clothes；
and unlovely her features； she seemed a gracious presence because of her
earnestness。
〃Now；〃 she said； cheerily； 〃you rest here until I come back with your
Lucretius； and then I think I must be getting on my way home。 But you
must fix a time for our first Greek lesson； for we must begin to…morrow。〃
When she had gone he walked in the cloisters； holding his hat in his
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hand and his stick under his arm。 There was a quiet smile on his face；
which was called forth by pleasant thoughts in his mind； and he did not
look quite so shrunken and shrivelled as usual。 His eyes were fixed on the
ground； but he raised them； and observed a white cat creeping toward him。
It came and rubbed itself against his foot； and； purring with all its might；
seemed determined to win some kind of notice from him。 The old man
stooped down to stroke it； and was just touching its sleek coat when he
suddenly withdrew his hand and groaned deeply。 He struggled to the
recess； and sank back。 The stick fell on the stone with a clatter； and the
battered hat rolled down beside it； and the white cat fled away in terror；
but realising that there was no cause for alarm； it came back and crouched
near the silent figure of the old man； watching him intently。 Then it
stretched out its paw and played with his hand； doing its utmost to coax
him into a little fun； but he would not be coaxed； and the cat lost all
patience with him； and left him to himself。
Meanwhile Helen Stanley was looking for the lost Lucretius in the
Poets' Corner。 She found it laying near Chaucer's tomb； and was just going
to take it to her friend when she saw the workman to whom they had
spoken in Trafalgar Square。 He recognised her at once； and came toward
her。
〃I've been having a quiet half…hour here；〃 he said。 〃It does me a sight
of good to sit in the abbey。〃
〃You should go into the cloisters；〃 she said； kindly。 〃I have been sitting
there with my friend。 He will be interested to hear that you love this
beautiful abbey。〃
〃I should like to see him again；〃 said the workman。 〃He had a kind
way about him； and that pipe he gave me is an uncommon good one。 Still；
I am sorry I smashed the little clay pipe。 I'd grown used to it。 I'd smoked it
ever since my little girl died and left me alone in the world。 I used to bring
my little girl here； and now I come alone。 But it isn't the same thing。〃
〃No； it could not be the same thing；〃 said Helen； gently。 〃But you find
some comfort here？〃
〃Some little comfort；〃 he answered。 〃One can't expect much。〃
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They went together into the cloisters； and as they came near the recess
where the old man rested Helen said：
〃Why； he has fallen asleep！ He must have been very tired。 And he has
dropped his hat and stick。 Thank you。 If you will put them down there； I
will watch by his side until he wakes up。 I don't suppose he will sleep for
long。〃
The workman stooped down to pick up the hat and stick； and glanced
at the sleeper。 Something in the sleeper's countenance arrested his
attention。 He turned to the girl； and saw that she was watching him。
〃What is it？〃 she asked anxiously。 〃What is the matter with you？〃
He tried to speak； but his voice failed him； and all he could do was to
point with trembling hand to the old man。
Helen looked； and a loud cry broke from her lips。 The old man was
dead。
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THE OMNIBUS
BY QUILLER…COUCH
All that follows was spoken in a small tavern； a stone's throw from
Cheapside； the day before I left London。 It was spoken in a dull voice；
across a greasy table…cloth； and amid an atmosphere so thick with the reek
of cooking that one longed to change it for the torrid street again； to broil
in an ampler furnace。 Old Tom Pickford spoke it； who has been a clerk for
fifty…two years in Tweedy's East India warehouse； and in all that time has
never been out of London； but when he takes a holiday spends it in
hanging about Tweedy's； and observing that unlovely place of business
from the outside。 The dust； if not the iron； of Tweedy's has entered into his
soul； and Tweedy's young men know him as 〃the Mastodon。〃 He is a thin；
bald septuagenarian； with sloping shoulders； and a habit of regarding the
pavement when he walks； so that he seems to steer his way by instinct
rather than sight。 In general he keeps silence while eating his chop； and on
this occasion there was something unnatural in his utterance； a divorce of
manner between the speaker and his words； such as one would expect in a
sibyl disclaiming under stress of the god。 I fancied it had something to do
with a black necktie that he wore instead of the blue bird's…eye cravat
familiar to Tweedy's； and with his extraordinary conduct in refusing to…day
the chop that the waiter brought； and limiting his lunch to cheese and
lettuce。
Having pulled the lettuce to pieces； he pushed himself back a little
from the table； looked over his spectacles at me； then at the table… cloth；
an