The Red Thumb Mark

up with a tray (our bedrooms were on the attic floor above the laborato

itable. I have had a knock on the head, and, although I feel none the worse, I must take the proper precautions-rest and a low diet-

, cheerfully resigning himself to most distasteful inaction, with the fussy behaviour of the ordinary patient who, with nothing of importance to do, can hardly be prevailed upon to rest, no

eared to include me in the scheme of reduced diet) my expectant e

eep up his courage, and, for yourself, bear my warning in mind. I should be sorry indeed if you ever had cause to regret

of the entry just as the cabman had

rance," I said, as I step

ded, with a grin; and I was glad that neither the ans

iss Gibson," I said. "It

two, so as to have as long a time with him as

nce, which I noted at first with surprise and then with decided approbation, caused me some inward discomfort, for I had in my mind a very distinct and

o use for me to re-open the question of th

ely, "though I understand and apprec

ll be as well for me to prepare you for the ordea

Is it so bad? Tell me

briates. Most of them are regular customers at the prison-such is the idiotic state of the law-who come into the reception-room like travellers entering a familiar hostelry, address the prison officers by name and demand the usual privileges and extra comforts-the 'drunks,' for instance, generally ask for a dose of bromide to steady their nerves and a light in the cell

taken to Reuben's cel

en it-and a very dreadful and shocking sight I found it, I can tell you. It was while I was acting as a prison doctor in the Midlands that I had this

e?' I asked the war

iends,' he answered. 'Like

all in incessant movement, the faces mouthing and grimacing, and the hands clawing restlessly at the bars. The uproar was so terrific that no single voice could be distinguished, though every one present was shouting his loudest to make himself heard above the universal din. The result was a very strange and horrid illusion, for it seemed as if no one was speaking at all, but that the n

ean to say that we shall be turned loose into on

ts, which are numbered. The prisoner is locked in one box and his visitor in the corresponding box opposite. They are thus confronted, with the width of

is horrible for decent people. Surely

essage to Reuben? He would understand a

y for me to go. He must not be allowed to think that a trifling inconvenience

uiet and prosperous-looking suburban street, at the e

he most advantageous point of view; seen from the back, and e

trance to the prison. Here, while the necessary formalities were gone through, we found ourselves part of a numerous and very motley company, for a considerable assemblage of the prisoners' friends was awaiting the moment of admission. I noticed that my companion was observing our fellow-visitors with a kind of horrified curiosity, which she strove, however, and not unsuccessfully, t

ing known as "the wing"; and, in the course of our progress, I could not help observing the profound impression made upon my com

"that you had better let me see Reuben first; I have not

?" she asked, with a

upset by the interview, and I should like to see

e right, and it is kind of you t

en in at a glance as I entered-was such as to cause me to thrust my hands into my pockets and studiously avoid contact with any part of the structure but the floor. The end of the box opposite the door was closed in by a strong grating of wire-excepting the lower three feet, which was of wood-and looking through this, I perceived, behind a second grating, Reuben Hornby, standing in a sim

himself heard quite easily, to my surprise, above the hubbub of the adjoining boxes; "but

I came here by choice because I h

ith evident disapproval; "she oughtn'

hat you wouldn't like

fuss and sacrifice themselves when nobody wants them to. But I mustn't be

at his cool, unappreciative tone; "a most noble-heart

ating; on which I felt that I could have pulled his nose with pleasure-only that

mly, "we have always b

f the loveliest and sweetest woman in the world? But, after all, one cannot trample on a poor devil locked up in a jail on a fals

nd the conditions he

ily be worse. I don't mind if it's only for a week or two; and I am really e

nt. Of course, you know I am not in his confidence-nobody is-but

e him an immense debt of gratitude for having stood by me and believed

son life, and when he had chatted for a quarter of an h

change of confidences or for utterances of a sentimental character. The consciousness that one's conversation could be overheard by the

nceivable that his reception of the girl, strung up, as she was, to an acute pitch of emotion, might have been somewhat in the nature of an anticlimax. And then, was it possible that the feeling was on her side only? Could it be that the priceless pearl of her love was cast before-I was tempted to use the collo

vestibule, and a moment later were let out through the wicket into the courtyard; and as the lock clicked behind us, we ga

her address to the driver, when I noticed her l

?" she said, in response to a h

tunity with thankf

e word to the cabman, I took my place by her side as the cab started and a black

Gibson remarked presently, "but I shall come again all

n that her visits must almost of necessity involve my companionship

ce to see the poor fellow caged like a wild beast, with that dreadful label hanging f

she graciously ascribed to the enlivening influence of my society

. "It is the merest chance that he was not killed on the spot. Is he much

ject in my delight at the proposal), and when I stepped down from the cab at King's Cross to pursue my way homewards, there al