Lyddy closed the window down hard now. She had reason to believe that
he was called Lucas Pritchett. He had a sign in his window that said
"Lucas Pritchett, Practical Plumber," and his apron and cuff-shields, as
well as his hands, were often smudged with what seemed to be the grime of
his trade. He was twice her age, at least.The boy--he _was_ hardly more--smiled again, watching the spirited
activity in the Bray flat. He liked to see the white arms and capable
hands of the elder girl moving about. Then he gathered up his tools from
the window-sill and went off into the rear of the house."I wonder why he doesn't live south," the girl told herself. "Then I
shouldn't be bothered by seeing him always at his window when I lift my
eyes."Still, by the time supper was ready and she had called her father, and
Ann had come in and they had all drawn about the little table, the
question of Lucas Pritchett's domicile was quite forgotten. There were
so many other and greater problems pressing upon Lyddy's mind at that
time.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 

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