o speak of heredity and Mr.
Wheeler's sister Jane's temper.

"Where are you going, Poppy?" she enquired, as the girl rose to follow
the dutiful Mr. Wheeler. "I want to speak to you a moment."

The girl resumed her seat, and taking up a small garment intended for
the youngest Wheeler but two, or the youngest but one, whichever it
happened to fit best, or whichever wanted it first, stitched on
in silence. "I want to speak to you about Bob," said Mrs. Wheeler,
impressively. "Of course you know he never keeps anything from his
mother. He 'as told me about all the gells he has walked out with, and
though, of course, he 'as been much run after, he is three-and-twenty
and not married yet. He told me that none of 'em seemed to be worthy of
him."

She paused for so long that Poppy Tyrell looked up from her work, said
"Yes," in an expressionless manner, and waited for her to continue.

"He's been a good son," said the mother, fondly; "never no trouble,
always been pertickler, and always quite the gentleman. He always smokes
his cigar of a Sunday, and I remember the very first money 'e ever
earned 'e spent on a cane with a dog's 'ed to it."

"Yes," said Poppy again.

"The gells he's 'ad after 'im wouldn't be believed," said Mrs. Wheeler,
shaking her head with a tender smile at a hole in the carpet. "Before
you came here there was a fresh one used to come in every Sunday almost,
but 'e couldn't make up his mind. We used to joke him about it."

"He's very young still," said Poppy.

"He's old enough to be married," said Mrs. Wheeler. "He's told me all
about you, he never has no secrets from 'is mother. He told me that he
asked you to walk out with 'im last night and you said 'No'; but I told
'im that that was only a gell's way, and that you'd give 'im another
answer soon."

"That was my final answer," said Poppy Tyrell, the corners of her mouth
hardening. "I shall never say anything else."

"All young gells say that at first," said Mrs. Wheeler, making
praiseworthy efforts to keep her temper. "Wheeler 'ad to ask me five
times."

"I meant what I said," said Poppy, stitching industriously. "I shall
never change my mind."

"It's early days to ask you perhaps, so soon after Captain Flower's
death," suggested Mrs. Wheeler.

"That has nothing at all to do with it," said the girl. "I shall not
marry your son, in any case."

"Not good enough for you, I suppose?" said the other, her eyes snapping.
"In my time beggars couldn