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[Illustration: "WILL HE COME?"

_From the Painting by Marcus Stone, R.A._

_By Permission of the Berlin Photographic Co., London, W._]

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The
HARMSWORTH

MONTHLY PICTORIAL

MAGAZINE.


VOLUME 1, 1898-9. No 2.

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My travelling companion

A COMPLETE STORY

BY CATHERINE CHILDAR.

_Illustrated by Fred. Pegram._


It was a miserable day in November--the sort of day when, according to
the French, splenetic Englishmen flock in such crowds to the Thames, in
order to drown themselves, that there is not standing room on the
bridges. I was sitting over the fire in our dingy dining-room; for
personally I find that element more cheering than water under depressing
circumstances.

My eldest sister burst upon me with a letter in her hand: "Here, Tommy,
is an invitation for you," she cried.

My name is Charlotte; but I am generally called Tommy by my
unappreciative family, who mendaciously declare it is derived from the
expression "tom-boy."

"Oh, bother invitations," was my polite answer. "I don't want to go
anywhere. Why, it's a letter from Mysie Sutherland! How came you to open
it?"

"If she will address it to Miss Cornwall, of course I shall open it.
I've read it, too--it's very nice for you."

"Awfully jolly," put in Dick, who had followed my sister Lucy into the
room.

"Oh, I don't want to go a bit."

"Well, then, you'll just have to. It's disgraceful of you, Tom; why, you
may never get such a chance again. You'll meet lots of people in a big
country house like that, and perhaps--who knows?--marry a rich
Scotchman."

"I declare, Lucy, you