answered, earnestly. "Remember, I am a
little out of sorts to-day. I am not discouraged; I have no cause to be
discouraged. A good many of the outside public misunderstand my work,
and Mr. Lavilette thinks I make money out of it. Then, of course, all
the organized charities are against me. But in spite of all I am able
to go on and increase day by day."

"It is wonderful," she declared. "I read everything in the papers about
you--and I get the monthly reports, for of course I am a subscriber--so
is mother. But--that brings your shameful neglect of us back into my
mind. I wrote to you begging to be allowed to inspect one of your
branches, and all I got back was a polite reply from your secretary to
the effect that the general public--even subscribers--were never allowed
in any of the branches as sightseers, and that all I could see was the
stores and general arrangements, for which he enclosed a view-card."

"Well," Brooks said, "you don't think that poor people who come to you
for help should be exposed to the casual inspection of visitors who want
to see how it is done, do you? I have always been very particular about
that. We should not allow the Prince of Wales in the room whilst we
were dealing with applicants."

"Well, you might have written yourself, or come and seen us," Sybil
declared, a little irrelevantly. "Why couldn't I be an occasional
helper?"

"There is not the slightest reason why you should not," he answered.
"We have seventeen hundred on the books, but we could always do with
more, especially now we are opening so many more branches. But, you
know, we should expect you to come sometimes, and how would Lady Caroom
like that?" She laughed.

"You know how much mother and I interfere with one another," she
answered. "Besides, I have several friends who are on your list, and
who are sent for now and then--Edie Gresham and Mary Forbrooke." "It is
rough work," he said; "but, of course, if you like, my secretary shall
put your name down, and you will get a card then telling you what week
to come. It will be every afternoon for a week, you know. Then you are
qualified, and we might send for you at any time if we were short."

"I should come," she said.

A coach passed by, with its brilliant load of women in bright gowns and
picture hats, and two or three immaculate men. They both looked up, and
followed it with their eyes.

"Lord Arranmore," Sybil exclaimed, "and that is the Duchess of
Eversleigh wit