guttural voice, running her words together
without any stops, and at such express train speed that every now and
then she was obliged to stop short, and give a deep gasp of exhaustion.

"S-S-Sorry your mother is from mome me dears quite counted on finding
her rat ome. Said to myself at lunch must go and see Mrs Rendell
s'afternoon such a kind woman full of sympathy for rothers! Hurried out
and thought as had come so far might come in and see Miss Rendell as
servant said at tome and disengaged!"

The big mouth opened in a gasp for breath, which was heard throughout
the room, and Lilias stammered out a dismayed assent.

"Certainly--of course. So glad you did. If I can do anything I shall
be most pleased--"

"Of course, my dear. Your mother's daughter. Knew it by your face.
Not tany tea, thank you, bad for digestion enjoyed bad health for many
years and can only stay a minute. Called at four rouses already to-day
with no result. Breaks your rart to see the callous sardness of the
human race, every luxury and ease themselves and cold as sice to others.
Wouldn't believe it unless you were present to see rebuffs si get.
Ladies not a mile from this souse--could mention names but won't--pay
pounds and pounds for gloves and dats and not talf-a-crown to spare for
crying need, but said to myself all day, Mrs Rendell will help! I'll
get ta welcome there!"

"Oh yes, I'm sure mother would be pleased," stammered Lilias, more and
more puzzled to understand the drift of the strange woman's remarks.
From the farther end of the room a little squeaky sound was heard,
elaborately turned into a cough. Lilias grew hot with embarrassment,
and Miss Thacker peered suspiciously over her spectacles as she produced
a circular from her satchel and handed it over for inspection. It bore
the heading "Waybourne Home for Incurables," and set forth a plea for
help with which the girl was already familiar. She read it over,
however, once and yet again, puzzling her head meantime as to what to do
next. To refuse to give a donation was to class one's self at once
among those whose "callous sardness" had been denounced, and Lilias's
love of appreciation was so intense, that even before this unlovely
stranger she could not bear to appear in an unfavourable light. She
determined to delay the evil moment, and leave to her mother the
unpleasant task of refusal; for it seemed in the last degree unlikely
that Mrs Rendell would desire to suppleme