rself. But she
believed, big as he was, he was just a hobbledehoy-boy. He was a boy who,
if one looked at him, just _had_ to smile. And he was always working in
a white apron and brown straw cuff-shields at that window which was a
little above the level of Lyddy's kitchen window.

Lyddy Bray abominated flirting and such silly practises. And although
the boy at the window was really good to look upon--cleanly shaven,
rosy-cheeked, with good eyes set wide apart, and a firm, broad chin--Lyddy
did not like to see him every time she raised her eyes from her own
kitchen tasks.

Often, even on dark days, she drew the shade down so that she should have
more privacy. For sometimes the young man looked idly out of the window
and Lyddy believed that, had she given him any encouragement, he would
have opened his own window and spoken to her.

The place in which he worked was a tall loft building; she believed he
was employed in some sort of chemical laboratory. There were retorts, and
strange glass and copper instruments in partial view upon his bench.

Now, having lighted the gas, Lyddy stepped to the window to pull down
the shade closely and shut the young man out. He was staring with strange
eagerness at her--or, at least, in her direction.

"Master Impudence!" murmured Lyddy.

He flung up his window just as she reached for the shade. But she saw then
that he was looking above her story.

"It's those Smith girls, I declare," thought Lyddy. "Aren't they bold
creatures? And--really--I thought he was too nice a boy----"

That was the girl of it! She was shocked at the thought of having any
clandestine acquaintance with the young man opposite; yet it cheapened him
dreadfully in Lyddy's eyes to see him fall prey to the designing girls
in the flat above. The Smith girls had flaunted their cheap finery in
the faces of Lyddy and 'Phemie Bray ever since the latter had come here
to live.

She did not pull the shade down for a moment. That boy certainly was
acting in a most outrageous manner!

His body was thrust half-way out of the window as he knelt on his bench
among the retorts. She saw several of the delicate glass instruments
overturned by his vigorous motions. She saw his lips open and he seemed
to be shouting something to those in the window above.

"How rude of him," thought the disappointed Lyddy. He had looked to be
_such_ a nice young man.

Again she would have pulled down the shade, but the boy's actions stayed