't be choosers."

"They can't choose much now," said Poppy, in a low voice; "but as you
know I'm going to a situation on Monday, I shall soon be able to pay off
my debt to you: though, of course, I can't repay you for your kindness
in letting me live here when I had nowhere else to go."

"It isn't me you owe it to," said Mrs. Wheeler. "I'm sure I couldn't
'ave afforded to do it whatever Wheeler liked to say if Bob hadn't come
forward and paid for you."

"Bob?" cried Poppy, springing to her feet and dropping her work onto the
floor.

"Yes, Bob," said the other, melodramatically; "'im what isn't good
enough to be your husband."

"I didn't know," said the girl, brokenly; "you should have told me. I
would sooner starve. I would sooner beg in the streets. I will go at
once."

"I daresay you know where to go, so I sha'n't worry about you," replied
Mrs. Wheeler. "You quiet ones are generally the worst."

"I am sorry," murmured Poppy; "I did not mean to be rude, or
ungrateful."

"You're very kind," said Mrs. Wheeler. "Is Mr. Fraser up in London?"

"I'm sure I don't know," said the girl, pausing at the door.

"Sure to be, though," said Mrs. Wheeler, significantly; "you won't 'ave
to starve, my dear. But, there, you know that--some people's pride is a
funny thing."

Miss Tyrell regarded her for a moment in silence and then quitted the
room, coming back again from half-way up the stairs to answer a knock at
the door. She opened it slowly, and discovered to her horror Mr.
Fraser standing upon the doorstep, with a smile which was meant to be
propitiatory, but only succeeded _in_ being uneasy.

"Is that Mr. Fraser?" demanded Mrs. Wheeler's voice, shrilly.

"That's me," said Fraser, heartily, as he shook hands with Poppy and
entered the room.

"I thought you wouldn't be far off," said Mrs. Wheeler, in an unpleasant
voice. "Poppy's been expecting you."

"I didn't know that Mr. Fraser was coming," said Poppy, as the helpless
man looked from one to the other. "I suppose he has come to see you. He
has not come to see me."

"Yes, I have," said Mr. Fraser, calmly. "I wanted--"

But Miss Tyrell had gone quietly upstairs, leaving him to gaze in a
perturbed fashion at the sickly and somewhat malicious face on the sofa.

"What's the matter?" he enquired.

"Nothing," said Mrs. Wheeler.

"Isn't Miss Tyrell well?"

"So far as I'm permitted to know the state of 'er 'ealth, she is," was
the reply.

"Mr. Wheeler well?" e