h a smile, at Toni.

"No." She coloured hotly. "I did not help at all."

"Miss Loder--my secretary at the office--came down to help me," said
Owen easily. "She is used to the work, you see, and does it
excellently."

"I see." The kindly eyes had seen Ton's flush. "Well, no doubt Mrs. Rose
is satisfied to inspire your work and let others do the manual labour.
The power behind the throne, eh, Mrs. Rose? That's what women used to
be, bless them, before these dreadful Suffragettes arose to destroy
woman's real influence by violence and wrongheadedness."

"I expect my wife is jolly thankful the book's finished," said Owen
laughing. "She has had a pretty thin time while I've been writing it.
But now I suppose there will be a lull of a few weeks?"

"Oh, I won't keep you long," said Mr. Anson genially. "I'll send the
manuscript to the reader to-night, and let you know as soon as
possible."

They parted from their host on the pavement out side the Carlson, and
Owen turned to Toni.

"Now, dear, what will you do? Will you come with me to the office, or
have you any shopping?"

Toni bit her lip nervously. She had a request to make, and did not know
how to set about it.

"Well?" Owen watched her, wondering why she looked embarrassed.

"Owen, would you mind if I went to Brixton to see my aunt? I--I'm afraid
they think I'm a little unkind, and after all they have always been good
to me."

"Why, Toni"--Owen was genuinely surprised--"you don't mean to say you
are afraid to ask me that! Of course you can go. I'll come to fetch you
when I've finished my work, if you like."

"Will you?" She knew how such a visit would gratify her aunt. "Shall I
take a taxi, then, Owen? You'll want the car."

"Yes, I think that would be best, then you can stay as long as possible.
What time shall I come, Toni? Half-past five or so?"

"Yes. That will be lovely. Then we'll have a jolly ride home."

He called a taxi accordingly and installed Toni therein; and he stood
back to watch her gliding away from him in the mellow September
sunshine, before he hurried to the office where Barry was impatiently
awaiting his arrival.

Toni found several members of the Gibbs family at home when at length
she reached her destination.

Being Thursday, Fanny was enjoying her weekly holiday, and was delighted
to see Toni; more especially because she had a piece of news to confide
which appealed strongly to Fanny's romantic nature.

When the first greetin