"I've stood already rather more than I can
carry."

We were in the bright light of a shop
window at the moment. He looked at me,
and looked a second time, uncertain what to
do. At any moment I might have found my-
self in a desperate street row with a man who
was my medical partner, I gave no provoca-
tion, but kept myself keenly on the alert.
Suddenly, to my relief, he burst out laughing
(such a roar as made the people atop on the
other side of the road), and passing his arm
through mine, he hurried me down the street,

" Devil of a temper you've got, Munro,"
said he. " By Crums, it's hardly safe to go
out with you. I never know what you're
going to do next. Eh, what? You mustn't
be peppery with me, though ; for I mean well
towards you, as you'll see before you get
finished with me."

I have told you this trivial little scene,
Bertie, to show the strange way in which
CuUingworth springs quarrels upon me;
suddenly, without the slightest possible pro-
vocation, taking a most offensive tone, and
then when he sees he has goaded me to the



THE STARK MUNRO LETTERS. 185

edge of my endurance, turning the whole
thing to chaff. This has occurred again and
again recently ; and, when coupled with the
change in Mrs. CuUingworth's demeanour,
makes one feel that something has happened
to change one's relations. What that some-
thing may be, I give you my word that I have
no more idea than you have. Between their
coldness, however, and my unpleasant corre-
spondence with my mother, I was often very
sorry that I had not taken the South American
liner.
