EEITED

you can call the dky-fe€f^:e..^5iij^go, for a lef

there.”

Gregory ascended the stairs to his lodging with a far more

elastic step than usual. His wife saw at once, as he entered, that he had good news of some sort.

“ What is it, Gregory ? ”

Thank God, darling, that I have good news to give you

at last ! I have obtained a situation at about a hundred and

thirty pounds a year in Alexandria.”

“ Alexandria ? ” she repeated in surprise. “ Yes. It is the place of all others that I wanted to go to

;

you see I understand the language. That is one thing; and what is of infinitely more consequence, it is a place that will

suit your health, and you will, I hope, very soon get rid of

that nasty cough. I did not tell you at the time, but. fhe

doctor I took you to, said that this London air didmot suifr-

you, but that a warm climate would soon seLyo^up again."

“ You are going out there for my sake, Gregory! As if I

hadn’t brought trouble enough on you alrea

“ I would bear a good deal more trouble for y\)ur sal you need not worry about that.”

And what are you going to do ? ” she asked."^

I am going to be a sort of useful man—extra

ant storekeeper, et cetera, et cetera. I like Egypt very much,

it will suit me to a T ; at any rate it will be a vast improve- ment upon this. Talking of that, I have forgotten the

rashers; I will go and get them at once. We sha’n’t have

to depend upon them as our main staple in future, for fruit

is dirt-cheap out there, and one does not want much meat. We shall be able to live like princes on two pounds ten a

week, and besides, this appointment may lead to something

better, and we may consider that there is a future before us. We are to sail on Thursday. Look! here are fifteen golden

sovereigns, that is for my outfit, and we can begin with lux-

uries at once. We shall not want much outfit : half a dozen

suits of white drill for myself and some gowns for you,”