Some white sheep in every flock."

Gertie explained Jim Langham's requirements, and Trew, placing his hat
upon the counter, and admitting himself to be something of an authority
on matters connected with the sea, brought his best intelligence to
bear upon the subject. It was too late, he decided, to go down that
evening to the steamship office, but a telegram might be sent, asking
for a berth to be reserved, and Mr. Langham could go to the docks in
the morning.

"It is absolutely imperative," declared the other urgently, "that I
leave at the first possible moment."

"If the worst comes to the worst," said Mr. Trew, "you can ship as a
stowaway. You come up on deck, third day out, and kneel at the
captain's feet and sing a song about being an orphan. That, of course,
would be a last resource."

Gertie discovered a telegram form, and on the instructions of Mr. Trew,
filled it in; and Jim Langham assured her that he was more obliged than
he could express in words. Mr. Trew left to arrange the dispatch of
the message.

"I count myself extremely fortunate," said the other, "to have
encountered you, Miss Higham. If you hear anything against me later
on, I--I should feel grateful if you thought the best of me that you
can. I wish," he went on, with an anxious air, "I wish I knew how to
repay you."

"Don't make a fuss about trifles," she recommended.

He gazed at a picture of a well-attired youth smoking a cigar.

"I was a decent chap once," he said thoughtfully, "but that was long
ago. Look here, Miss Higham! Henry--you know Henry?"

"I did know him." Turning her face away.

"He will be at Paddington Station tomorrow morning at ten. See him
there. Put off every other engagement, and see him."

"There will be no use in doing that."

"There may be," he contradicted earnestly. "You've been very hard hit
over this business, and I happen to know he wants to meet you, only
that he is afraid of appearing intrusive. At ten o'clock at the
arrival platform. May I say good-bye now? God bless you. I haven't
much influence with Him, but I--I hope He'll be good to you!"

She came from behind the counter, and accompanied him to the swing
doors.

"Whose ghost was it you thought you saw, Mr. Langham?"

"I must have been mistaken," he replied vaguely. "A shame to have
worried you!"

All the comedy in life and some of the tragedy can be found at London
railway stations, and only the fact that members of the