I slunk home to Beadle Square when I imagined every one else would be in bed.

Mrs Nash met me at the door.

“Your friend Smith’s gone,” she said.

“Gone!” I exclaimed. “Where?”

“How should I know? He paid his bill and took off his traps two hours ago, and says he’s not coming back!”

You may guess, reader, whether I slept that night.


Chapter Twenty Two.

How I tried to forget my Friend Smith, and failed.