iss Wickham's guest chamber, which
had been part of Dr. Evans' prescription, had spoiled her for simpler
joys. She laughed aloud at the thought.

By the time she had had her supper, which was sufficiently good, and
written a few notes--one to the doctor's wife to say that she thought
she would be quite comfortable in her new quarters, and one to the head
of the agency through which she had obtained her post with Miss
Wickham--Nora found herself ready for bed.

The next day dawned bright and fine; one of those delightful spring days
to which the great city occasionally treats you as if to protest against
the injustice of her reputation for being dark and gloomy.

There were a number of pleasant looking people in the coffee room when
Nora went down to breakfast, which turned out to be abundant and well
cooked. Having inquired her direction--a sense of location was not one
of her gifts--she set out gaily enough for a whole day of sightseeing.
She might never get another position and have eventually to go out as a
charwoman--the detail that she would be illy equipped for any such
undertaking she humorously dismissed--but a day or two of unalloyed
enjoyment she was going to have, come what might.

The day was a complete success. Having done several of the picture
galleries, lunched and dined frugally at one of the A. B. C.
restaurants, Nora returned at nightfall, tired but happy. Oh, the
blessed freedom of it!

The next morning on coming down stairs she found at her plate a letter
from the agency. The management of affairs, it seemed, had passed into
other hands. Doubtless Miss Marsh's name would be found on the books of
several years back, but it was not familiar to the new director.
However, they would, of course, be pleased to put themselves at Miss
Marsh's service. If she would be good enough to give them an early call,
bringing any and all references she might have, etc., etc.

Miss Marsh tore the note into tiny fragments. The agency could wait,
everything could wait, for the moment. She must have her fling, the
first taste of freedom in all these years. After that----!

CHAPTER V

October had come. Nora was no longer in the comfortable little hotel to
which the doctor's wife had sent her. Early in July she had thought it
wiser to seek cheaper quarters where breakfast was not 'included.' Every
penny must be counted now, and by combining breakfast and lunch late in
the morning she found she could do quit