both of them. Not that Lily was less closely watched. She never
went out alone, but it was not always Ma who was at her heels: it was
sometimes Glass-Eye. With faithful Glass-Eye, things took their own course
and the interviews with Trampy became easy. As for Jimmy, he saw her every
day at practice and he took that opportunity to tell her of his ideas, his
plans for the future.

"I shall succeed, you will see, Lily," he said. "I shall do something some
day. I'm a bit of a mechanic, a bit of an electrician, that is to say, a
bit of a wizard. Others have started lower down and climbed very high."

"Yes," replied Lily, "I know. It's like Pa. He wasn't much before he got
me into shape; and look at him now!"

This was said with an artless candor that enraptured Jimmy.

"What a dear little girlie you are!" he said. "What an adorable kid!"

"That's right," retorted Lily. "Why not a baby, while you're about it, a
school-girl in the biking-class and so on? Some people treat me as a
woman, Jimmy, and propose to marry me!"

"What's that?"

"What I say, Jimmy."

"And this man making up to you is worthy of you, I suppose? And do you
love him?" asked Jimmy, greatly upset.

"Pooh!" said Lily. "I'm not quite sure."

"But you wouldn't marry him unless you loved him?"

"I should marry him to change my life."

"A change, Lily," said Jimmy, with feeling, "is not always a change for
the better! And your life is a little pleasanter now, you told me so
yourself. Your mother is sorry. You're getting pocket-money; ten shillings
a week, eh? Why, Lily, that's splendid!"

"Well; and I earn it, I suppose," said Lily. "And Ma isn't a bit sorry. Pa
said he wouldn't have it, that's all. They were afraid of my running away
if it went on. I am no longer a child!"

"No," said Jimmy, taking her hands, "an adorable girl; that's what you
are. Oh, a man whom you would love should do great things! He would love
you with all his heart! And your life would be different then! No, you
would not be a performing dog, as you call it; you would be a darling
little wife. It's all very well to rove about the world, from theater to
theater, riding round and round on your bike...."

"I adore the stage, for all that!" interrupted Lily.

"But that can't go on for ever," continued Jimmy. "You're entitled to have
a nicer life: a home of your own, Lily; you have the making of a lady in
you, if you were taught. In a year or two, Lily, you would be the equal o