they would be sure to get the right brand.

As for "Pastimes"--our guest tenant would be delighted to have her stay
extended. I wondered if the gardener would pine for Bridget! I
wondered if--_anyone_--would pine for me! Personally the prospect of
occasional "calls" pleased me better than the thought of meetings in the
country, under the Argus eye of village gossips. In the latter case one
would be self-conscious and restrained; in the former, safe from
observation, doubly sheltered behind wig and spectacles, there could be
no doubt as to which position afforded the better opportunity of getting
to know a man's character.

I wrote a letter to Charmion, reassuring her as to Christmas in my
"dreary flat"; I tore up the unfinished note to Delphine, and sent
another, assuring her of my sympathy, repeating my offers of help. Poor
little girl! Her real love for "Jacky" would be in the ascendant now,
and all the pleasure and vanities for which she had pined would seem
trivial things, compared with his dear life.

I did not write to Mr Maplestone. The difficulty of handwriting came
in, and there was no real necessity to answer his note. If I knew
Delphine, she would find it a relief to pour forth her woes on paper. I
waited confidently for a letter to appear.

Two days passed by, three; I was growing anxious, and debating if I
should write again, when there came a loud rat-tat at the door, and a
reply-paid telegram was handed in, addressed to Miss Wastneys:--

"Letter received. Need urgent. Unable to leave. Can you come
to-morrow. Beg you not to refuse. Delphine."

I seized a pencil, scribbled a hasty "Expect me by train arriving
twelve," and having despatched the promise, sat down to consider how I
was to keep it. What an excitement to think of feeling young again, and
being able to devote my attention to looking as nice as I could, instead
of laboriously contriving disfigurements! Under my bed lived a box
wardrobe on wheels, in which, carefully stretched and padded to avoid
creases, reposed a selection of garments which were certainly not suited
to old Miss Harding's requirement. Mentally I reviewed them, selected
the prettiest and most becoming, saw a vision of myself putting the last
touches before the glass, with Bridget's beaming face watching every
stage. Oh, it would be an exhilarating variety, and easy, too--
perfectly easy. I would give the orphan leave of absence for two days,
and send her re