pills might cure you.”

[Pg 16]

“Really, you are too kind for words. May I ask if your sister shares your knowledge of my career and state of health?”

“Did I show her the paper, do you mean?”

“Yes.”

“No, I had forgotten all about it, but if you would like her to see it—”

“Look here, Miss Millicent, you are a sharp girl. Now, I’ll make a bargain with you. Find that paper, say no more about the paragraph—which, I may tell you, is rank nonsense from start to finish—and your Christmas box will be five sovereigns.”

“Done,” said Minkie, coolly. “And here we are at Dale End. Mile End—Dale End. Funny, isn’t it, how names run together that way occasionally.”

Before Jim led me around to the stable I heard Mam express her surprise that Mr. Schwartz had come alone. She had expected her husband by the same train. And she [Pg 17]did not know Millicent had gone in the victoria. How on earth did the child recognise Mr. Schwartz, as she had never seen him?

[Pg 17]

“I rather fancy your younger daughter would pick me out in the Strand if she were so minded,” explained the visitor, cheerfully.

“I hope she did not bore you by her chatter,” said dear, innocent Mam. “Or perhaps she was in one of her silent moods?”

“No. We got along famously; didn’t we, Millicent?”

“It was a nice drive,” said Minkie, “not too cold, and the village is quite gay.”

“Well, I find the air rather chilly,” said Mam. “Why are we all standing here? Come into the drawing-room, Mr. Schwartz. Dorothy is there, and we shall have tea brought a little earlier than usual. Evangeline, tell James to take Mr. Schwartz’s portmanteaux to the Blue Room.”

Of course, I should not have heard what happened next if Tibbie had not looked in to see me that night. As a matter of fact, the gang does not miss much in the way of gossip. One or other of us is 

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