influence he sought.

The Misses Holland were interested in his story, pleased with the idea
of softening and refining the child, half-Italian, half-Londoner, and
made things easy for the bronzed and handsome father; with the result
that from that time Toni's connection with the Council School ceased,
and she became a boarder, on surprisingly low terms, at the aforesaid
School for Young Ladies; where she remained until she was close on
seventeen.

These years were the turning point of Antonia's life. Here, in company
with twenty other girls, somewhat above her in station, she learnt,
among other things, the virtues of gentleness, quietness in voice and
movement, unselfishness, and many kindred things; and those years of
happy, monotonous toil, broken only by pleasant, friendly treats, or
gentle, old-fashioned punishments, were full of use and value to the
growing girl.

On her seventeenth birthday she was to leave school for good; and it had
been settled that her father was then to return to England and make a
home for her--a hope which the girl had hugged to her heart through all
these quiet years.

But on the very day which should have seen her emancipation something
happened.

The liner on which Roger was hastening back to England, after a year in
the East, went down in a mighty gale off Gibraltar; and Roger Gibbs was
among the drowned.

* * * * *

Of course all hope of that little home was at an end now. No more
remittances could be looked for, the store of money left for her
education was all spent; and though it seemed incredible that Roger
should have made no provision for his daughter's future, such indeed
proved to be the fact.

Doubtless he had intended to settle down, to obtain some post in
England; but as things turned out there was nothing left for Antonia.
Let it be said at once that her relations behaved well. The Misses
Holland, too, would have taken her to help in the school but for the
unexpected advent of a needy niece of their own; but from the first
Antonia set her face against teaching.

She did not like it, would rather go in for business, she said; and the
upshot of it all was that after some time she managed to obtain a post
in a large typewriting office in order to learn the work, after which
she was required to give her services for a period of twelve months for
a nominal salary in return for the teaching and business training
bestowed upon her.