"And you'll stick to it, I know," said Sidcup, shaking hands with him.

Isabel sat beside her patient that night, as she had sat for the four

preceding ones; but few words passed between them, for Derrick seemed to

be sleepy--at any rate, he lay with his eyes closed. The next day it was

Isabel who was silent; for, woman-like, she felt that a barrier had

risen between them, and she was wondering what it could be. Derrick was

a strong man, and he recovered quickly. In a day or two he was able to

get about, and on the morning of the fifth he sought Mr. Bloxford and,

as gently as he could, informed him that he, Derrick, would have to

leave his employment.

Mr. Bloxford stared, grew red and exceeding wrath.

"What the deuce does this mean?" he demanded, throwing open his fur coat

and sticking out his chest. "Look here, if you're not satisfied----"

Derrick made haste to assert not only his entire satisfaction with, but

his gratitude for, Mr. Bloxford's confidence and generosity.

"Then what is it?" shrilled Mr. Bloxford. "Has anybody been roughing

you? If so, out he goes. Oh, I can't part with you, and that's the long

and short of it. Here, what is it?"

"That's just what I can't tell you," said Derrick, colouring under the

sharp, gimlet-like eyes.

Mr. Bloxford scratched his hairless head and looked despairingly at

Derrick. From the first he had expected that there were grave reasons

for the young man's presence in the company; a man of Derrick's breeding

does not join a travelling circus for the mere fun of it.

"Some trouble, I suppose, eh? Got to clear out? I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Look here, can't something be done--can't it be squared? if it's

money--well, say the amount"--he threw out his chest again--"and it

shall be forthcoming. I'll own up that I've taken a fancy to you, that

I'd plank down a biggish sum to keep you with me. No?"--for Derrick had

shaken his head.

"Thank you with all my heart," said Derrick. "I must clear out without

any fuss. I've got a bundle packed, and I'm going straight off directly

I leave you."

Mr. Bloxford's countenance fell, and he whistled.

"Bad as that, is it? Whatever have you done? Well, well, I won't ask any

questions. I've met some of your sort before; there's always something

shady--though it goes against the grain with me to think that you've

done anything low down and mean. But I see there's no use talking."




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