For days Alice did not notice. Then, waking one morning to Nell's call, she saw the child, utterly still ünd absorbed, dwarfed old age, saw herself, empty, outside life, even a little absurd, She was hurt, She worried about it, thinking how best to defeat Tilly, saying nothing, only bringing a Bible with her next time she sat, reading with a tiny, self-righteous sense of triumph, But Tilly, although she could not read, was not disturbed, indeed was pleased at a variation in the game, She too brought a book, bending low, her lips moving as did the old lady's, and with as little. meaning as Alice had to admit. For somehow, she could not read the foxed pages; the tale- was too cold, hung in chains, and besides, flies came and walked distractingly, bees too, as if they mistook the: foxings for the brown ghosts of flowers, Alice quite forgot her Bible, looking towards the hives in the lower garden. Joe's stocks had been brought there after dark in the carriers van with the few bits of things she had kept to furnish a room for herself.
She shut her Bible, straightened her shawl, and walked slowly down the path towards the hives, Grass grew between the bricks of the path. She must ask Nell for boiling water next wash-day, pour it between the bricks. Joe had hated furred paths, ar he called them.
She carried a faintly salted pan of water near to the hives, hunting for a pebble or two for foothold for the bees, bending and searching with difficulty, ridiculously stiff but determined, unwilling to ask Tilly's help.
Then she noticed, for the. first time, the clear print of a hand upon a half-painted hive, Joe's hand. He must have rested heavily upon it for support through one of his swimmy turns. A strong, square hand, how well she knew it.
After an anguished. night she stayed abed beyond her usual hour the next morning, stiff and cold, unwilling to move again. Until she saw Tilly watching her through the window, squinting determinedly through the sea-green glass. For a little while she lay quiet, pretending sleep, but Tilly stared pitilessly on. Her mother called and Stones clattered and Alice heard a bird-sudden "Nothing as I "Then why "Oh, be quiet, child. When you're as old as she is you'll know."
"Yes, but——"She just don't care, that's all. Now run along"
And back Tilly came to the window, wide-eyed, more curious than ever. Alice positively itched under her inquisitive gaze. She thought of giving her a penny to go away and, unconcernedly as she could, got out of bed to look for her purse. But there were only useless keys and buttons in the purse.
It seemed silly to get back into bed after so much scurrying, so she dressed and went into the kitchen. Tilly was there before her, questioning urgently:
"Wy don't you care?"
Nell cuffed her daughter lightly: *Now you get along. The kettle won't be a minute, Ma.'
Alice wanted to explain, to ask for a penny for Tilly, to stop her staring. But Nell was busy, kneading Gough, a fine figure, humming a forthright song, not giving a damn even though she was expecting another child before the month was knew what Nell would say about pence to stop starting, so she said nothing, only drank her tea, took her cup to the sink and washed ibe went out into the garden to the woodshed, shutting herself in, safe from Tilly's gaze, on U.S. Marriage Market brooding grimly, reaching back to Extravagant living and- heavy Joe and forwards to Nell, finding no losses by gambling and speculating place for herself, lost in a waking on the Stock Exchange were said nightmare. to be the causes of the failure of At first, the smoke wisping thinly between the ancient weather-boards Malise Herbert Stewart, 27, of Camp-had seemed but a part of that night-Cen Hillsquare, when he attended mare. Then she began to cough, the London Bankruptcy Court on waking to a thorny crackling.
March 15 for his public examination, Alice coughed and blinked. A states the "Daily Telegraph and mouse bolted in panic and flame Morning Post." skewered suddenly very close.
His statement of affairs showed Alice came hastily alive, forgetting liabilities of £28418. His assets, all dignity and despair, wrenching consisting of equities in pledge open the door, scampering noisily to tickets, were put down as "doubt-safety. ful"
A pile of old straw against the Previous Failure woodshed wall was blazing strongly, Replying to Mr, Bruce Park. Offi-the shed itself smoking and smoulcial Receiver, he said that a receiv-dering, and there was Tilly, matching order was made against him in box still in hand, capering and crow-September, 1934. In February, 1935, ing triumphantly, the order was discharged. The court "You do care! You do care!" then approved a scheme under which Alice tidied herself primly, t&king Bs in the £ was paid on liabilities the matches from the gleeful Tilly, of £5,267 after debts of £12,142, tempted to clump, but vaguely realiz-mostly loans from his mother, had ing the service she had done. been withdrawn.
Nell came running, and Tilly bolted.
Following that arrangement. Ste-Nell swore a lot, but between them wart said, he went to South Africa they raked and doused the flames. to seek employment, but he was un-"It's that brat, Till Lord only successful and returned. From Auknows where she gets her ideas from. gest, 1935, to November, 1936, he Just wait until I lay hands on her!" worked on half commission for.a Tily watched prudently from a firm of stockbrokers. corner of the house while Alice He speculated in stocks and shares placated her angry daughter.
"'Tis the nature of children to do and incurred heavy losses. In Decem-such things after all. Don't you reber, 1936, he went to America, taking member the time you soaked the letters of credit, cash and travellers' parson's hat in paraffin because he cheques worth about £7,000, includwouldn't believe in your miracle, and ing £5,000 borrowed from a money-the way it popped into flames when lender. he passed the candle?"
While there, he said he speculated Nell had quite forgotten, but now extensively la shares and incurred she remembered, laughing uproarious-a considerable loss. ly, Alice with her. Now that she Mr. Bruce Park: Before your pre-was able to laugh again, Alice wanted vious failure you had about £1,000 to cry, too, with relief, but she didn't. a year from your mother?—Yes.
She shared a pot of tea with the In one year before that receiving reminiscent Nell, then took up order, did you lose more than £10,- basket of cabbage plants from the (00 in share speculations, £2,850 by porch where young Joe had dropped betting in casinos and on horse-them the night before. racing, and spend on yourself over Alice found a trowel and began three times as much as that alles planting the cabbages. ance?—I think I did.
Tilly, watching interestedly, idling Liabilities cautiously to the other end of the row, kneeling in imitation, pretend-Since then you created liabilities ing to plant. at the rate of about £12,000 a Alice straightened herself, shrug-—I take that figure from ging the stiffness from her bone: correct. offering a plant. But Tilly shook he Do You take any credit for that head warily: "Mum won't let me. fact?—I certainly do mot nonsense, child. If you do as I Stewart agreed that his present do shell be pleased." deficiency account showed that since Tilly looked doubtful, edging near-Feb. 28, 1935, his household and personal expenses amounted to Look now, like this." £8,320 and his gambling losses to "Like this? £10,000. His total expenses were "Thats it.... Very carefully, be £32,864 and his income £4,446. cause it hurts if you break the roots.'
He said that he visited places in With pursed lips and swinging hair America for pleasure, spending con-Tilly planted the cabbage, looking to siderable sums on extravagant living Alice for approval. and incurring heavy losses by betting and gambling.
"Sympathetic" Toothache Mr, Bruce Park: Why did you go Alice smiled too, remembering the to America?—To get married.
Do you mean you were offering burning shed. A good, definite way of finding out how much one cared. yourself on the ma arkat?—AS it guessing her thoughts, Tilly No, I went to marry He leved that the asked suddenly: "Why didn't you who w care, Gran?" paren shout 24, were but they "I don't know, child." Alice groped would not have ited with mone for explanation, for words to convey to_him. heartache, no warmth or footing Mr, Bruce Park: Did you go there stripping. after comfort, loss of love well-known, but Tilly spoke first to gamble?—To speculate.
Questioned regarding his illness, bird-sudden, sympathetically.
Stewart said that he suffered from "Like after toothache?"
Alice nodded gratefully, and Tilly, internal hemorrhage. satisfied, nodded too, understandingly, Mr. Bruce Park: Was that brought about by high living and excessive perfectly satisfied, all interest cen-fred now on the planting, on this drinking?—Certainly not.
He added that he returned to babying of green things which would England on Jan. 27, 1937, having die or not as she mothered them. spent all his money with the ex-'Alice knelt again, safe and scun hot-faced at her escape, deeply ception of about £100. amused. Yet grief was like that. Joe Hoped For Help would have understood, even the tooth bit, And, thinking of teeth.
Since April, 1937, he had been she remembered the old set of his without employment, but he con-with the gold plates; sold, it would tinued to borrow money ard inci amply pay for Nell's lying-in—new liabilities. He had hoped friends teeth for old—Joe would have liked would come forward and guarantee that too. his banking account.
Mr. Bruce Park: Why should they? Would it not be like throwing money down the drain?
Stewart: Not the drain, Paris Bourse Report He denied that he went to Pana-Paris, Apr. 17. ma and New Zealand to avoid bank-'The past week on the Bourse was zuptey proceedings. He bought a one of the best recorded in a long bracelet for £400 which he pledged time as National Bonds gained several for £70. points while a number of shares also Mr. Bruce Park: You know the marked increases of over 10 per cent., expression "stumer cheques"?—Too and in some cases even over 15 per well.
T have some which you have passed cent.
The large majority votes in the at home and abroad, and a list of Chamber of Deputies and in the debts incurred in various parts of Senate when the Daladier Cabinet the world. On your trips did you proposed its financial bill, caused a sive your true name?—Ye: sensation on the Bourse and provoked And allow people to know the very favourable trend. The an Englishman?—Yes. change in the state of affairs on the Gold Cigarette Cases Bourse, it appears, is almost similar to a vote of confidence in the Gov-The Official Receiver quoted from ernment, which it is hoped will put an account which showed that a definite end to social conflicts and Stewart bought silk pyjamas at £3 strikes in factories.
10s a pair and peaches at 2s 6d each.
Other factors also encouraged the "L would like to go into that acmarket, however. The general easing count," said Stewart. noted in the international political He agreed that he gave away a situation following the Anglo-Italian diamond and sapphire watch which rapprochement and the good trend cost £32. He also bought five gold on Wall Street, where a favourable cigarette cases, including one in reception was given to President March, 1937, for £115.
Roosevelt's speech announcing new Mr. Bruce Park: Did you get gold $7,000,000,000 credits to be devoted cases because they are easily pledged, io stimulating business, are among and were they in and out of paw: ihe aiding causes. shops continuously?—No.
On the exchange market, the suc-How many times had they been in cess of Premier Daladier had similar before you finally pledged them?—happy effects. The unfavourable Probably once. tendencies of the franc were brought The examination was concluded. up short and the French Equalization Fund had to be used to avoid too great fluctuation. In this manner, a large reserve of foreign exchange was bought. up.
Submarine "Vanishes"
The pound sterling closed the week Jast Thursday at 15823 francs as compared to 162.25 francs the week
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.