Page:The Works of H G Wells Volume 8.djvu/175

 the other, and round him at the familiar, shabby little room, with his familiar cheap portmanteau on the mended chair, and that banjo amidst the supper things like some irrevocable deed. Could he be rich indeed? Could it be that these things had really happened? Or had some insane fancy whirled him hither?

Still—perhaps a hundred pounds

"But," he said. "It's all right, reely, Uncle. You don't think—? I 'ad a letter."

"Got up," said old Kipps.

"But I answered it and went to a norfis."

Old Kipps felt staggered for a moment, but he shook his head and chins sagely from side to side. As the memory of Bean and Shalford revived, the confidence of Kipps came back to him.

"I saw a nold gent, Uncle—perfect gentleman. And 'e told me all about it. Mos' respectable 'e was. Said 'is name was Watson and Bean—leastways ' was Bean. Said it was lef' me—’’ Kipps suddenly dived into his breast pocket. "By my Grandfather"

The old people started.

Old Kipps uttered an exclamation and wheeled round towards the mantel shelf above which the daguerreotype of his lost younger sister smiled its fading smile upon the world.

"Waddy 'is name was," said Kipps, with his hand still deep in his pocket. "It was ' son was my father"

"Waddy!" said old Kipps.

"Waddy!" said Mrs. Kipps.