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ng to be troubled so。 〃We must follow her。〃 Her resolution seemed magnificent。 〃I have no one to go with me。〃
〃He must marry her；〃 said the man。
〃She has no friends。 We have no one。 After allTwo women。So helpless。〃
And this fair…haired little figure was the woman that people who knew her only from her books； called bold； prurient even！ Simply because she was great…heartedintellectual。 He was overcome by the unspeakable pathos of her position。
〃Mrs。 Milton；〃 he said。 〃Hetty！〃
She glanced at him。 The overflow was imminent。 〃Not now；〃 she said； 〃not now。 I must find her first。〃
〃Yes；〃 he said with intense emotion。 （He was one of those big； fat men who feel deeply。） 〃But let me help you。 At least let me help you。〃
〃But can you spare time？〃 she said。 〃For ME。〃
〃For you〃
〃But what can I do？ what can WE do？〃
〃Go to Midhurst。 Follow her on。 Trace her。 She was there on Thursday night； last night。 She cycled out of the town。 Courage！〃 he said。 〃We will save her yet！〃
She put out her hand and pressed his again。
〃Courage！〃 he repeated； finding it so well received。
There were alarms and excursions without。 She turned her back to the fire； and he sat down suddenly in the big armchair； which suited his dimensions admirably。 Then the door opened； and the girl showed in Dangle； who looked curiously from one to the other。 There was emotion here； he had heard the armchair creaking； and Mrs。 Milton； whose face was flushed； displayed a suspicious alacrity to explain。 〃You； too；〃 she said； 〃are one of my good friends。 And we have news of her at last。〃
It was decidedly an advantage to Widgery； but Dangle determined to show himself a man of resource。 In the end he； too； was accepted for the Midhurst Expedition； to the intense disgust of Widgery； and young Phipps； a callow youth of few words； faultless collars； and fervent devotion； was also enrolled before the evening was out。 They would scour the country； all three of them。 She appeared to brighten up a little； but it was evident she was profoundly touched。 She did not know what she had done to merit such friends。 Her voice broke a little； she moved towards the door； and young Phipps； who was a youth of action rather than of words； sprang and opened itproud to be first。
〃She is sorely troubled；〃 said Dangle to Widgery。 〃We must do what we can for her。〃
〃She is a wonderful woman；〃 said Dangle。 〃So subtle； so intricate； so many faceted。 She feels this deeply。〃
Young Phipps said nothing； but he felt the more。
And yet they say the age of chivalry is dead！
But this is only an Interlude； introduced to give our wanderers time to refresh themselves by good； honest sleeping。 For the present； therefore； we will not concern ourselves with the starting of the Rescue Party； nor with Mrs。 Milton's simple but becoming grey dress； with the healthy Widgery's Norfolk jacket and thick boots； with the slender Dangle's energetic bearing； nor with the wonderful chequerings that set off the legs of the golf…suited Phipps。 They are after us。 In a little while they will be upon us。 You must imagine as you best can the competitive raidings at Midhurst of Widgery； Dangle； and Phipps。 How Widgery was great at questions； and Dangle good at inference； and Phipps so conspicuously inferior in everything that he felt it； and sulked with Mrs。 Milton most of the day； after the manner of your callow youth the whole world over。 Mrs。 Milton stopped at the Angel and was very sad and charming and intelligent； and Widgery paid the bill。 in the afternoon of Saturday； Chichester was attained。 But by that time our fugitivesAs you shall immediately hear。
THE AWAKENING OF MR。 HOOPDRIVER
XXVII
Mr。 Hoopdriver stirred on his pillow； opened his eyes； and； staring unmeaningly； yawned。 The bedclothes were soft and pleasant。 He turned the peaked nose that overrides the insufficient moustache； up to the ceiling； a pinkish projection over the billow of white。 You might see it wrinkle as he yawned again； and then became quiet。 So matters remained for a space。 Very slowly recollection returned to him。 Then a shock of indeterminate brown hair appeared； and first one watery grey eye a…wondering； and then two ； the bed upheaved； and you had him； his thin neck projecting abruptly from the clothes he held about him； his face staring about the room。 He held the clothes about him； I hope I may explain； because his night…shirt was at Bognor in an American…cloth packet； derelict。 He yawned a third time； rubbed his eyes； smacked his lips。 He was recalling almost everything now。 The pursuit； the hotel； the tremulous daring of his entry； the swift adventure of the inn yard； the moonlightAbruptly he threw the clothes back and rose into a sitting position on the edge of the bed。 Without was the noise of shutters being unfastened and doors unlocked； and the passing of hoofs and wheels in the street。 He looked at his watch。 Half…past six。 He surveyed the sumptuous room again。
〃Lord！〃 said Mr。 Hoopdriver。 〃It wasn't a dream； after all。〃
〃I wonder what they charge for these Juiced rooms！〃 said Mr。 Hoopdriver； nursing one rosy foot。
He became meditative； tugging at his insufficient moustache。 Suddenly he gave vent to a noiseless laugh。 〃What a rush it was！ Rushed in and off with his girl right under his nose。 Planned it well too。 Talk of highway robbery！ Talk of brigands Up and off！ How juiced SOLD he must be feeling It was a shave tooin the coach yard！〃
Suddenly he became silent。 Abruptly his eyebrows rose and his jaw fell。 〃I sa…a…ay！〃 said Mr。 Hoopdriver。
He had never thought of it before。 Perhaps you will understand the whirl he had been in overnight。 But one sees things clearer in the daylight。 〃I'm hanged if I haven't been and stolen a blessed bicycle。〃
〃Who cares？〃 said Mr。 Hoopdriver； presently； and his face supplied the answer。
Then he thought of the Young Lady in Grey again； and tried to put a more heroic complexion on the business。 But of an early morning； on an empty stomach （as with characteristic coarseness； medical men put it） heroics are of a more difficult growth than by moonlight。 Everything had seemed exceptionally fine and brilliant； but quite natural； the evening before。
Mr。 Hoopdriver reached out his hand； took his Norfolk jacket； laid it over his knees； and took out the money from the little ticket pocket。 〃 Fourteen and six…half；〃 he said； holding the coins in his left hand and stroking his chin with his right。 He verified； by patting； the presence of a pocketbook in the breast pocket。 〃Five； fourteen； six…half；〃 said Mr。 Hoopdriver。 〃Left。〃
With the Norfolk jacket still on his knees； he plunged into another silent meditation。 〃That wouldn't matter；〃 he said。 〃It's the bike's the bother。
〃No good going back to Bognor。
〃Might send it back by carrier； of course。 Thanking him for the loan。 Having no further use〃 Mr。 Hoopdriver chuckled and lapsed into the silent concoction of a delightfully impudent letter。 〃Mr。 J。 Hoopdriver presents his compliments。〃 But the grave note reasserted itself。
〃Might trundle back there in an hour； of course； and exchange them。 MY old crock's so blessed shabby。 He's sure to be spiteful too。 Have me run in； perhaps。 Then