ss judged that with him the
progress of love was satisfactory. "My dear young relation, near
Paddington Station, of course I will come to your show. If forced to
leave early, you won't think me surly; I have to meet some one you
know!" To this Gertie sent a card begging Miss Loriner to include
herself in the invitation, and that young woman forwarded a telegram
from Ewelme with the word "Delighted."

"Now"--to herself hopefully--"now I shall hear some news about him!"

Gertie decided the evening should differ from evenings which had
preceded it, in that the entire expense was to be borne by herself; and
Mrs. Mills therefore only offered a feeble objection when the girl
arranged that the front room upstairs was to be turned out, rout seats
hired, and a few articles of furniture, including the piano-forte
(which, at one perilous moment, threatened to remain for the rest of
its life at the turn of the staircase), transferred from the shop
parlour. Bulpert announced his intention of taking charge of the
musical and dramatic part of the entertainment. Bulpert no longer
considered himself a visitor at Praed Street, and on one occasion he
entered a stern protest when he found Mr. Trew's hat there, resting
upon the peg which he considered his own. Twice he had suggested that
Gertie should lend him half a sovereign, reducing the amount, by
stages, to eighteenpence; but she answered definitely that advances of
this kind interfered with friendship, and she preferred not to start
the practice.

"I could let you have it back in a fortnight."

"Perhaps!" she said. "And if you did, you would be under the
impression that you were doing me a great favour."

"I like to see a girl economical," he remarked, frowning, "but there's
a diff'rence between that and being miserly. And," with resolution, "I
go further, and I say that if there's anybody who's got a just and fair
and proper claim on your consideration, it is F. W. B."

"There's some one who comes before you."

"The name, please?"

"Myself," replied Gertie.

The question of conciliating Miss Rabbit at Great Titchfield Street had
been solved, and matters there were going smoothly. Miss Rabbit
continued to hold her title of forewoman, although she was no longer
forewoman; and Miss Higham took the label of secretary, which well
described duties she did not perform. The girls in the workroom made
no concealment of their satisfaction with the change, and men at the
l