eart was sore as he went up and down the narrow streets in
search of Peg.

She was at the door of the house when he reached it, laughing and
talking with a youth in a loud check suit and a highly-coloured tie, and
her handsome face hardened as Forrester approached and raised his hat.
She vouchsafed no answer to his "Good evening," only stared as he
explained his errand.

"I think you are a friend of my wife's. She is ill, and has asked for
you." He paused, and the youth in the check suit lounged off and down
the street.

"My name is Forrester," the Beggar Man went on after a moment. "I don't
know whether you have heard of me, but I have heard of you, and I know
you are Faith's friend. Will you come? She is in great trouble. Her
mother died suddenly this evening."

"Died!" Peg's eyes opened in horror. "Oh, poor kid!" she ejaculated.
"Here, wait a minute." She turned into the house, and he heard her
shouting to someone that she was going out and might not be home all
night. Then she came back to him, banged the door behind her, and they
set off down the road together.

People stared at them curiously as they passed, but Forrester was
unconscious of it. He was not greatly prepossessed with Peg, but then
few people were at first sight, although she was a handsome girl and
magnificently built.

She was gaudily dressed for one thing, and Forrester hated gaudy
clothes, and she wore long silver gipsy earrings and a string of bright
green beads dangling from her neck.

She did not speak to him till they were nearly at their destination.
Then she said bluntly:

"You've come back then?"

Forrester looked at her.

"Yes. I came back last night."

She gave a short laugh.

"I told Faith I didn't believe you would," she said.

He coloured angrily.

"I am much obliged to you, I am sure," he said, curtly.

Peg laughed again.

"Oh, don't mention it!" she said, airily. "I'm glad to be wrong for once
in my life." She paused. "Faith's mighty fond of you," she added, almost
threateningly.

Forrester frowned: he resented this girl's blunt, downright manner of
speech, but Peg went on, quite indifferent to his obvious annoyance.

"She went for me hot and strong when I told her you were Ralph Scammel.
Up like a spitfire she was!"

"When you told her--what?"

Her blue eyes met his defiantly.

"When I told her that you were Scammel and owned Heeler's," she
repeated. "I knew, and I didn't see why she shouldn't know, too