"B's" who had got their boxes, and almost bounded into a
foot of unoccupied space in front of me.

"Lady Bulkeley?" he shot at me, like history repeating itself; only he
pronounced me as if my name were founded on my size and weight.

This time I didn't answer. I simply stood at bay, and stared, trying to
look as much like Mother as possible. But the new man didn't seem to
mind this in the least, so apparently my effort was not a success.

"I'm _The Evening Bat_," he remarked hurriedly, with an air of valuing
his time at so much a second.

I was sorry he was a bat, for I've always been fond of bats, they are
such soft, grey, velvet things; and I should have liked to tell him
that he was much more like a chicken hawk, only that would have been
vulgar; and, besides, I didn't intend to pose as chicken to his hawk.
By way of not letting myself be gobbled up, I remained silent; but I
couldn't help starting when a voice behind me exclaimed: "Ah, there, my
chappie. You're welcome to the milk. I've skimmed off the cream. Ta,
ta."

It was the _Flashlight_ flashing at the _Evening Bat_.

The creature was not blinded, however. He seemed difficult to
disconcert. The only response he made was to grin, and push his hat a
little farther back on his head. An inch more, and it must have slid
down over his collar--which was so low in the neck in front that it
gave me the creeps.

"There's plenty of milk and roses, too, I guess," said he, staring in
such a way that I blushed, and was vexed with myself for blushing. I
peered anxiously about, hoping to see a face I knew, even ever so
slightly, which might be summoned to the rescue. But all the "B's" were
passionately minding their own business, and while I was wishing that
Mr. Doremus began with a "B" instead of a "D," I caught the eyes of
a man looking straight at me. The very nicest eyes, and with an
expression in them that filled me with joy!

They said: "Do let me come and get rid of that fellow for you," and
mine said: "Yes--yes--yes. Please come at once."

So the Eyes came, without waiting for more; and it was the Hero of the
steerage who brought them. That was the reason I'd telegraphed "yes,
yes"; for I thought: "He saved a little boy, why shouldn't I trust him,
without an introduction, to save me?"

"Look here," said the bronze man to the _Evening Bat_, "I've got just
five minutes to spare. You can have them if you like."

The _Evening Bat_ looked at him, crossly at fi