ful-natured and very dissatisfied Belgian family, and so she had
taken up her quarters on the darker and colder side of her house, that
which overlooked the street.

It was there, in a severe-looking study on the ground floor, that Mrs.
Otway found her this evening.

As her visitor was ushered in by the cross-looking old servant who was
popularly supposed to be the only person of whom Miss Forsyth stood in
fear, she got up and came forward, a very kindly, welcoming look on her
plain face.

"Well, Mary," she said, "what's the matter now? Mrs. Purlock drunk
again, eh?"

"Well, yes--as a matter of fact the poor woman was quite drunk this
morning! But I've really come to know if you can spare me to-morrow
afternoon. I want to go to London on business. I was also wondering if
you know of any nice quiet hotel or lodging near Piccadilly--I should
prefer a lodging--where I could spent two nights?"

"Near Piccadilly? Yes, of course I do--in Half-Moon Street. I'll engage
two rooms for you. And as for to-morrow, I can spare you quite well. In
fact I shall probably manage better alone. Can't you go up by that nice
early morning train, my dear?"

Mrs. Otway shook her head. "No, I can't possibly get away before the
afternoon. You see I must look after Mrs. Purlock. She got into rather
bad trouble this morning. And oh, Miss Forsyth, I'm so _sorry_ for her!
She believes her two boys are being starved to death in Germany.
Unfortunately she knows that woman whose husband signed his letter 'Your
loving Jack Starving.' It's thoroughly upset Mrs. Purlock, and if, as
they all say, drink drowns thought and makes one feel happy, can we
wonder at all the drinking that goes on just now? But I'm going to try
to-morrow morning to arrange for her to go away to a sister--a very
sensible, nice woman she seems, who certainly won't let her do anything
of the sort."

"Surely you're rather inconsistent?" said Miss Forsyth briskly. "You
spoke only a minute ago as if you almost approved of drunkenness," but
there was an intelligent twinkle in her eye.

Mrs. Otway smiled, but it was a very sad smile. "You know quite well,
dear Miss Forsyth, that I didn't mean _that_! Of course I don't approve,
I only meant that--that I understand." She waited a moment, and then
added, quietly, and with a little sigh, "So you see I can't go up to
town to-morrow morning. What I want to do there will wait quite well
till the afternoon."

Miss Forsyth accompanied he