ssional. But he said nothing.

Miss Shirley said, with a distress which was genuine, though he
perceived a trace of amusement in it, too, "I see that I will have to go
on."

"Oh, do!" he made out to utter.

"I am going to Mrs. Westangle's as a sort of mistress of the revels.
The business is so new that it hasn't got its name yet, but if I fail it
won't need any. I invented it on a hint I got from a girl who undertakes
the floral decorations for parties. I didn't see why some one shouldn't
furnish suggestions for amusements, as well as flowers. I was always
rather lucky at that in my own fam--at my father's--" She pulled herself
sharply up, as if danger lay that way. "I got an introduction to Mrs.
Westangle, and she's to let me try. I am going to her simply as part of
the catering, and I'm not to have any recognition in the hospitalities.
So it wasn't necessary for her to send for me at the station, except as
a means of having me on the ground in good season. I have to thank you
for that, and--I thank you." She ended in a sigh.

"It's very interesting," Verrian said, and he hoped he was not saying it
in any ignoble way.

He was very presently to learn. Round a turn of the road there came
a lively clacking of horses' shoes on the hard track, with the muted
rumble of rubber-tired wheels, and Mrs. Westangle's victoria dashed
into view. The coachman had made a signal to Verrian's driver, and the
vehicles stopped side by side. The footman instantly came to the door of
the carryall, touching his hat to Verrian.

"Going to Mrs. Westangle's, sir?"

"Yes."

"Mrs. Westangle's carriage. Going to the station for you, sir."

"Miss Shirley," Verrian said, "will you change?"

"Oh no," she answered, quickly, "it's better for me to go on as I am.
But the carriage was sent for you. You must--"

Verrian interrupted to ask the footman, "How far is it yet to Mrs.
Westangle's?"

"About a mile, sir."

"I think I won't change for such a short distance. I'll keep on as I
am," Verrian said, and he let the goatskin, which he had half lifted to
free Miss Shirley for dismounting, fall back again. "Go ahead, driver."

She had been making several gasping efforts at speech, accompanied with
entreating and protesting glances at Verrian in the course of his brief
colloquy with the footman. Now, as the carryall lurched forward again,
and the victoria wheeled and passed them on its way back, she caught her
handkerchief to her face, and to