in especial, bewailed the absence of
her _alter ego_.

"Kitty will never forgive us if she doesn't see you," she declared.
"Oh, Nan, do go and call upon Mrs Maitland! Then Kitty would see you,
and you might get some more money from her! It would be the most
splendid fun. Oh, Nan, do! I'll love you for ever, if you will!"

Elsie and Agatha swelled the chorus by groans of appeal, and Nan visibly
wavered. She could do nothing until she had had tea, she declared, but
after that, if the rain grew less heavy, she would consider the matter;
and hesitation being taken for assent, she was plied with cake and
waited upon with obsequious attention. The elements seemed in favour of
the scheme, for, by the time that tea was finished, the downpour was
exchanged for a gentle drizzle, which could afford no excuse to a
weather-proof creature like Nan Rendell. She was therefore shawled and
bonneted once more, escorted to the front door by a giggling and excited
quartette, and set off forthwith to tramp half a mile of muddy high
road, half abashed at finding herself abroad in such a strange guise,
altogether delighted at the madcap nature of the expedition.

The visit to Mrs Maitland was a huge success, for Kitty sat staring
solemnly over her spectacles, while her mother had obviously much ado
not to laugh outright at the eccentricities of her visitor. In the
matter of donations she presented a firmer front than Lilias had done,
but Nan would not allow herself to be foiled without a struggle. When
Mrs Maitland said bravely, "I cannot see my way to giving anything more
at present," she bridled as with indignation, and replied--

"But you must not consider yourself, you must consider Me! Here am I,
tramping through mud and mire, drenched with rain, and chilled with
cold; here rare you in your comfortable home, surrounded with luxury and
dease, and you turn a deaf ear to the cause si plead, and let me toil in
vain. No! I cannot gaze upon your good, kind face, and believe in such
callous sardness ... The smallest trifle, if it be but half a crown--"

Well, it seemed a cheap price to pay to get rid of the terrible
creature! Like Lilias, Mrs Maitland meekly handed over the desired
coin, and rose to her feet with an air of determination.

"And now, if you will excuse me! I am rather busy, and--"

Nan bowed and smirked, then suddenly swooped across the room to where
Kitty sat, her arms stretched wide in invitation.

"And w