whom you'd met by chance,
and then find out that he was a gentleman-burglar? What would you do?"

"It often happens on the cinema," said Nora. "The girl wavers about in
an agony whether to tell or not, and wrings her hands and rolls her
eyes, like they always _do_ roll them on the films, and then, just when
things are at the very last gasp, the husband tumbles over a precipice,
or is wrecked at sea, or smashed in a railway accident, and she marries
the other, who's as good as gold, and loved her first."

"Is the man who loves you first always as good as gold?" asked Fil.

"Well, generally on the Pictures. He's loved you as a child, you see.
You come on the film hand in hand, in socks, and he gives you his
apple."

"But suppose they don't love you from a child?" said Fil plaintively.
"I've only known a lot of horrid little boys whom I didn't care for in
the least. None of them ever gave me his apple, though I remember one
taking mine. Is the first fascinating man I meet the true lover or the
burglar? How am I to know which is which?"

"You'd better let me be there to decide for you, child, or you'll be
snapped up by the first adventurer that comes along," declared Nora.
"Don't trust him if he has a mustache. 'Daring Dick of the Black Gang'
had a little twisted mustache like Mephistopheles in 'Faust'."

"Oh dear! And the last piece I saw on the Pictures, the villain was
clean shaven! That's no guide at all!"

"Girls, you're breaking the silence rule!" said Mrs. Best, opening the
door of Dormitory 2, where the conversation, which had begun in
whispers, had risen to a pitch audible on the landing outside. "This
doesn't look like scoring again next week, and giving another
performance. Why, Nora, the rain's driving through that open window
straight on to your bed! You'll be getting rheumatism! I shall shut it,
and leave the door wide open for air instead. Now be good girls and go
to sleep at once. Don't let me hear any more talking."

The Foursomes, in common with most of the hostel, were fond of Mrs.
Best, so they turned over obediently, and composed themselves to
slumber. They were really tired by this time, and dropped off into the
land of Nod before the clock on the stairs had chimed another quarter.
How long she slept, Ingred did not know. She dreamt quite a long and
circumstantial dream of wandering on the cliffs near the sea with a
gentleman-burglar, who was telling her his intention of raiding
Buckingham Pa