e day before near Hyde
Park corner, when sound of commotion came from the street; he seized
his peaked cap and hurried through the shop. Gertie followed.
Conversation between the two ladies had been interrupted by the same
cause and they were outside the doorway, looking on at a small crowd
that acted as escort to an ambulance in charge of two policemen; the
aim of every one appeared to be to snatch the privilege of securing a
view of the man partly hidden by the brown hood of the conveyance.
Mrs. Mills sent the customer across to obtain particulars, and
remarking cheerfully to Mr. Trew and the girl, "You two off? Don't be
late back, mind!" turned to the more interesting subject. Children
were running up from side streets, grateful for anything likely to
break the serenity of the afternoon.

"If he's damaged hisself," said Mr. Trew, as the ambulance stopped at
the hospital, "he's going to the right place to get repaired."

"It's to be hoped he has friends."

"Everybody's got the friends they deserve to have. Are we going the
direction to suit you, missy, or would you rather have gone Edgware
Road way?"

"Let's turn down London Street," she suggested. "It will be quiet
there. I've something to tell you." She rolled her parasol carefully.
"And I want your help, Mr. Trew."

Three youths near the underground station, with apparently no urgent
occupation, came forward hopefully on seeing Gertie; detecting the fact
that she was in the company of a big, burly man, they had to pretend a
sudden interest in a shuttered window. The two, going into Norfolk
Square, walked on the narrow pavement near the railings of the garden.

"Mr. Trew, I've got a young man!"

"That's the best news," he exclaimed heartily, "I've heard this summer!"

"And I want somehow to get him asked indoors. Once aunt sees him and
hears him talk, it will be all right. But I'm nervous about it, and I
don't know how to manage."

"This," he said, holding up a forefinger, "is just where old Harry Trew
comes in. This is exactly the sort of job he's fitted for. If he
hadn't took up with another occupation he'd have found himself by this
time in the Foreign Office. Do you want it arranged for to-night?"

"Please!"

"Right you are! You're going to meet him, I take it, presently. You
asked me to come out with you simply as an excuse for that purpose.
Very well, then. I've got a standing invite, as you very well know, to
drop in at the nine