urtained
and stuffy dining-room of the small hotel, Jane said, addressing herself
specially to Audrey:

"It won't be safe for us to return to Paget Gardens to-morrow. And perhaps
not to any of our places in London."

"That won't matter," said Audrey, who was now becoming accustomed to the
world of conspiracy and chicane in which Jane Foley carried on her
existence with such a deceiving air of the matter-of-fact. "We'll go
anywhere, won't we, Winnie?"

And Miss Ingate assented.

"Well," said Jane Foley. "I've just had a telegram arranging for us to go
to Frinton."

"You don't mean Frinton-on-Sea?" exclaimed Miss Ingate, suddenly excited.

"It _is_ on the sea," said Jane. "We have to go through Colchester. Do you
know it?"

"Do I know it!" repeated Miss Ingate. "I know everybody in Frinton, except
the Germans. When I'm at home I buy my bacon at Frinton. Are you going to
an hotel there?"

"No," said Jane. "To some people named Spatt."

"There's nobody that is anybody named Spatt living at Frinton," said Miss
Ingate.

"They haven't been there long."

"Oh!" murmured Miss Ingate. "Of course if that's it...! I can't guarantee
what's happened since I began my pilgrimages. But I think I shall wriggle
off home quietly as soon as we get to Colchester. This afternoon's business
has been too feverish for me. When the policeman held up his hand as we
came through Ellsworth I thought you were caught. I shall just go home."

"I don't care much about going to Frinton, Jenny," said Audrey.

Indeed, Moze lay within not many miles of Frinton-on-Sea.

Then Audrey and Miss Ingate observed a phenomenon that was both novel and
extremely disturbing. Tears came into the eyes of Jane Foley.

"Don't say it, Audrey, don't say it!" she appealed in a wet voice. "I shall
have to go myself. And you simply can't imagine how I hate going all alone
into these houses that we're invited to. I'd much sooner be in lodgings, as
we were last night. But these homes in quiet places here and there are very
useful sometimes. They all belong to members of the Union, you know; and we
have to use them. But I wish we hadn't. I've met Mrs. Spatt once. I didn't
think you'd throw me over just at the worst part. The Spatts will take all
of us and be glad."

("They won't take me," said Miss Ingate under her breath.)

"I shall come with you," said Audrey, caressing the recreant who, while
equal to trifles such as policemen, magistrates, and prisons, was