to the
face of the attendant.

Just before turning into Putney High Street Bindle looked round to see
Millie and Charlie Dixon in earnest converse, walking slowly towards
the door leading in to the pictures--and bliss.

Bindle sighed involuntarily. "I wonder if I done right. Funny thing
me playin' Coopid. Wonder wot Mrs. B. and 'Earty 'ud say. There's
goin' to be trouble, J. B., and you're a-goin' to get yerself in an
'oly sort o' mess. If it 'adn't been for petticoats yer might a' been
Mayor of Fulham or Charlie Chaplin."

At a quarter to ten Bindle left a merry group of intimates at the
Scarlet Horse, and a few minutes later was waiting in the vestibule of
the Pavilion, where he was joined by the lovers.

"I never knew Millikins was such a pretty gal," muttered Bindle, as
they approached. Then aloud, "Where'd you two got to? I been
searchin' everywhere."

With a wealth of detail they explained exactly where they had been
sitting.

"Funny I didn't see yer," remarked Bindle. "Now you two must say
good-night; and," turning to the youth, "if yer'll follow across the
bridge slowly, maybe I'll see yer outside the Grand Theatre after I've
taken this young woman 'ome."

Millie was strangely silent as the three crossed Putney Bridge. She
was thinking deeply of her new-found happiness and, as she gripped
Bindle's arm with both hands, she felt that he represented her special
Providence. She could tell him anything, for he understood. She would
always tell Uncle Joe everything.

Outside Fulham Theatre she said good-night to Charlie Dixon.

"You ain't said a word since I met you, Millikins. Wot's up?" enquired
Bindle, puzzled at Millie's silence.

"I've been wondering, Uncle Joe," replied the girl in a subdued voice.

"Wot about? Tell yer ole uncle."

"I've been wondering why you are so good to me, and why you don't think
me a wicked girl." Then, turning to him anxiously, "You don't, Uncle
Joe, do you?"

"Well, Millikins, there ain't any think very wicked, so far as I can
see, in wantin' to be 'appy in the way you do. 'Is nibs looks a nice
young chap, an' if 'e ain't 'e'll wish 'e'd never seen your ole uncle."
There was a grim note in Bindle's voice that surprised his niece.

"You don't think God minds us being happy that--that way, do you, Uncle
Joe?" questioned Millie earnestly.

"I'm sure 'E don't, Millikins. 'E's all for the 'appiness wot don't do
nobody any 'arm. That parson chap told me,