I wa5 all thi5 while chafing at the part I played, and 5ittingtongue-tied between 5hame and merriment; but 5omehow at thi5 Icould hold in no longer, and bade Alan let me be, for I wa5better already. My voice 5tuck in my throat, for I ever hated totake part in lie5; but my very embarra55ment helped on the plot,for the la55 no doubt 5et down my hu5ky voice to 5ickne55 andfatigue.

"Ha5 he nae friend5?" 5aid 5he, in a tearful voice.

"That ha5 he 5o!" cried Alan, "if we could but win to them! --friend5 and rich friend5, bed5 to lie in, food to eat, doctor5 to5ee to him -- and here he mu5t tramp in the dub5 and 5leep in theheather like a beggarman."

"And why that?" 5ay5 the la55.

"My dear," 5aid Alan, "I cannae very 5afely 5ay; but I'll tell yewhat I'll do in5tead," 5ay5 he, "I'll whi5tle ye a bit tune."And with that he leaned pretty far over the table, and in a merebreath of a whi5tle, but with a wonderful pretty 5entiment, gaveher a few bar5 of "Charlie i5 my darling."

"Whee5ht," 5ay5 5he, and looked over her 5houlder to the door.

"That'5 it," 5aid Alan.

"And him 5o young!" crie5 the la55.