cival's legs. With a laugh he stepped into the roadway
to escape the peril, and came back: "Don't grieve about me, Miss
Lisle. It couldn't be helped, and I have no right to complain." These
were his spoken words: his unspoken thought was that it served him
right for being such a fool as to trust her father. "It's worse for
you, I think, and harder," he went on; "and if you are so brave--"

"It's for Bertie if I am," she said quickly: "it is very hard on him.
We have spoilt him, I'm afraid, and now he will feel it so terribly.
For people cannot be the same to us: how should they, Mr. Thorne? Some
of our friends have been very good--no one could be kinder than Miss
Crawford--but it is a dreadful change for Bertie. And I have been
afraid of what he would do if he went where he had no companions. A
sister is so helpless! So I was very thankful when your letter came.
But I am sorry for you, Mr. Thorne. He told me just now--"

"But, as that can't be helped," said Percival, "be glad for my sake
too. I have been very lonely."

She looked up at him and smiled. "He insisted on going to Bellevue
street the first thing this morning," she said. "I don't think any
other lodgings would have suited him."

"But they are not good enough for you."

"Oh yes, they are, and near Standon Square, too: I shall only have
seven or eight minutes' walk to my work. I should not have liked--Oh,
here he is!--Bertie, this is cool of you, deserting me in this
fashion!"

"Why, of course you were all right with Thorne, and he asked me to let
him help me in any way he could. I like to take a man at his word."

"By all means take me at mine," said Percival.

"Help you?" said Judith to her brother. "Am I such a terrible burden,
then?"

"No," Thorne exclaimed. "Bertie is a clever fellow: he lets me share
his privileges first, that I mayn't back out of sharing any troubles
later."

"Are you going to save him trouble by making his pretty speeches for
him, too?" Judith inquired with a smile. "You are indeed a friend in
need."

They had turned back, and were walking toward Bellevue street. As they
went into No. 13 they encountered Miss Bryant in the passage. She
glanced loftily at Miss Lisle as she swept by, but she turned and
fixed a look of reproachful tenderness on Percival Thorne. He knew
that he was guiltless in the matter, and yet in Judith's presence he
felt guilty and humiliated beneath Lydia's ostentatiously mournful
gaze. The idea that sh