And then his aunt proceeded to tell Reggie all the story, and all the stories that had grown upon it. Perhaps in her delight in having so interesting a tale to tell, she forgot what such a story might mean to Reggie, for he had never made any secret of his whole-hearted devotion to Gertrude, but certainly she did not spare Gertrude, and to do Reggie's aunt justice, she fully believed most of the stories of flirtation and coquetry. Gertrude had been very little to see her of late, and in the light of these tales, she naturally put her own interpretation on the neglect. Reggie slept very little that night, and it was with a very pale face that he knocked at Mr. Gray's private door in the morning. "Are you ill?" asked the Manager kindly. Reggie shook his head with a faint smile. "Mr. Gray," he said, "you know my holiday is a fortnight in the end of September. Could you possibly make an exception for me and let me have four days now, and give up September entirely?" "My dear boy! it would not be at all good for you. What's the matter? Anybody at home ill?" "No! I've only an aunt." "Is it the one and only girl in all the world?" Reggie nodded, and a deep flush swept over his face. "She's in trouble. Her little sister has been stolen," he said, feeling some explanation was due. "Does she care for you?" "No, I don't think so," said Reggie sadly, "but I should like to go. It's all I can do, and it doesn't matter about my part of it, any way." "You shall go!" said the Manager quietly. "You shall go by to-night's mail. Perhaps things will be better than you fear. You'll be in London this time to-morrow morning." CHAPTER XXIII. THE MEETING OF THE WAYS. Jim could not forget Harry all day. The hours seemed to drag, and again and again he caught himself wondering if the time seemed as long to the little prisoner, shut within his four walls, with no one to speak to. He determined to go home immediately after his work and take the child for a tram-ride. Even his dinner beer tasted bitter to him to-day, and when he left his work and turned his steps homewards he still had fourpence of his precious sixpence left, wherewith to pay the tram fare. He was annoyed to find that Jane had not returned, and that there was no supper ready; but he ate what he could find and made a cup of tea. "I'm going to take you on a tram, Harry," he said, laying his hand affectionately on the boy's shoulder. "Why, child!" he added in astonishment, "your coat's wet! What have you been doing?" Harry's face clouded. He had forgotten the broken jug for a few minutes in the joy of his uncle's return. "I broke aunt's jug," he said faintly, "and I all got wetted." Jim got up and went to inspect the extent of the damage, and he whistled when he saw it. "Aunt will whip me," said Harry mournfully. "She'd better not!" said Jim fiercely; "it's _my_ jug. I'll get another on Saturday. Come, let's get ready and be gone before she comes in."