aw the
casement window set wide, banging to and fro on the metal fastener. A
little more, and it would be blown clear out, to lie shattered on the
path below. But when she had closed it, she was suddenly struck by the
entire absence of that peculiar close odour which had always been
present when the room was occupied by the immaculate Ellen and her
predecessors. Now there was only the fresh feeling of salt air,
mingled with a very faint fragrance of violets which came either from
the soap or from the powder on the toilet table. A nail-polisher lay
on the looking-glass, hastily thrown down; and that also witnessed to
that bodily self-respect which Caroline shared with nearly all those
other girls in Thorhaven who would have been in domestic service ten
years ago, but now went daily to shops and offices. They meant to be
the equal of any girls in the world, and they began by being personally
"nice" in those secret ways, which are only apparent in the general
effect. You could meet them anywhere up and down--clear skins
sometimes too heavily powdered--bright hair--pink fingers with
delicately tended finger-nails.

Caroline had gone off hurriedly that morning, because she wanted to do
as much housework as she could before leaving for the promenade. She
was sorry for Miss Ethel, who did not look at all well, though this
feeling was blunted by her pre-occupation with her own troubles--for it
had become quite plain that Godfrey was deliberately avoiding her.

At this moment she was walking quickly along the road, head to the
wind; then, turning, found herself sheltered from west and south to
some extent by the houses opposite the promenade. But once in the
little pay-box she had to listen all day while the little window
rattled unceasingly, and the boards creaked as the gale swept across
them.

The weather remained like that during the whole week, and Caroline was
on duty all day excepting for her meal-times. Occasionally a gleam of
sun touched the white crests of the breakers, but immediately
afterwards a sharp spatter of rain would drive in the faces of the few
who were tempted out.

The hours seemed endless to Caroline as she sat there--listening to the
howl and rattle of the wind, and the roaring of the sea, without
knowing that she listened to them. But very gradually she began to
feel in her spirit the effect of that deep, endless booming, and of the
tremendous procession of the breakers that came on and o