The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts (1922)

'Playing regularly, you know. If I hadn't been a fool I'd have stuck to that, but I got bitten with chemi.'

'With what?' asked Nora, over her shoulder.

'Chemin de fer. Never heard of it? I got in the habit of going to Thornton's. I suppose you never heard of him either. He keeps a gambling hell. Gives you a slap-up supper for nothing, as much pop as you can drink, and cashes your checks like a bird. The result is, I've lost every bob I had and then Thornton sued me on a check I'd given him. The governor forked out, but he says I've got to go to Canada. I'm never going to gamble again, I can tell you that.'

'Oh, well, that's something,' murmured Nora cheerfully.

'You can't make money at chemi,' went on Hornby, relapsing once more into gloom; 'the cagnotte's bound to clear you out in the end. When I come back I'm going to stick to bridge. There are always plenty of mugs about, and if you have a good head for cards, you can't help making an income out of it.'

'But I thought you said you were never going----' began Miss Pringle, but, thinking better of it, abandoned her sentence in mid-air.

'Here is your letter,' said Nora, holding it out to him.

'Thanks, awfully. I daresay I shan't want it, you know. I expect I shall get offered a job the moment I land, but there's no harm having it. I'll be getting along.'

'Good-by, then, and good luck.'

'Good-by,' he said, shaking hands with Nora and Miss Pringle.

'Nora, why don't you go out to Canada?' said Miss Pringle thoughtfully, as soon as the door had closed after young Hornby. 'Now your brother has a farm of his own, I should think----'

'My brother's married,' interrupted Nora quickly. 'He married four years ago.'

'You never told me.'

'I couldn't.'

'Why? Isn't his wife--isn't his wife nice?'

'She was a waitress at a scrubby little hotel in Winnipeg.'

'What are you going to do then?'

'I? I'm going to look out for another situation.'

Miss Pringle shook her head sadly.

'Well, I must be going. Mrs. Hubbard will be back from her drive by this time. She's sure to have you in for tea or something before you go. She's always been quite fond of you. At any rate, I'll see you again, of course.'

'Oh, yes, indeed.'

Nora was thankful to be alone once more. She wanted to think it all out. What a day it had been. Starting with such high hopes to end only in utter disaster. She felt completely exhausted by the emotions she had undergone. Time enough to plan to-morrow. To-night she needed rest.

Two days later, in the late afternoon, she found herself in the train for London, the second journey she had taken in ten years. Once, three years before, Miss Wickham had been persuaded to go up and pay the James Wickhams a short visit and had taken Nora with her.

It could hardly have been described as a pleasure trip. Miss Wickham detested visiting and had only yielded to her nephew's importunities because she had never been in his London house to stay any time and had an avid curiosity to see how they lived. She had of course disapproved of everything she saw about the establishment. But, as it was no part of her purpose to let the fact be known to her relatives, she had in a large measure vented her consequent ill-humor upon her unfortunate companion.

The last few days had seemed full, indeed. No matter how little one may really care for a place, the process of uprooting after ten years is not an easy one. Mr. Wynne had been to see her to renew his offer of assistance and counsel in any plan she might have for