to have a shave.

"I stopped his two letters when they came," went on Mrs. Mills. "Many
a woman in my position would have been curious enough to open them; I
didn't. I simply put them in a drawer where they can be found when the
trouble's all over. No one can blame me for that, surely."

Mr. Trew mentioned that it was a rummy world, and the methods adopted
by the people living in it did not make it the less rummy.

"I see what you mean," she said aggrievedly. "You think I've gone too
far. But you yourself admitted at the start, when she was meeting that
other young gentleman, that high and low never mixed well. And when I
heard that this one was likely to come into property, I made up my mind
to take the bull by the horns. What's that you say? Speak out, if
you've got anything in your head."

"When you take the bull by the horns," said Trew, advancing to the
white hearthrug, "what happens is a toss up. I can't tell you yet
whether you've done right or whether you've done wrong; but if you put
the question to me a 'underd years hence, I shall be able to answer
you. What's pretty clear to me is that you're fond of her, and I'm
fond of her, and all we want is to see her comfor'ble and happy.
Whether you're taking the right track to gain that object is more than
I can say. Personally, I shouldn't care to go so far as you've gone."

"That's because you're a coward."

"Delight of my juvenile heart," said Mr. Trew, "it's quite likely
you've hit on precisely the right explanation. Only thing is, it seems
to me somewhat rough on the little missy."

Miss Radford was studying the arrival of trains list at Paddington in
order to ascertain from which platform the 1.20 p.m. started; she had
assumed the slightly demented appearance that so many take when they
enter a railway station. Turning from the poster distractedly, she
clutched at the arm of a sailor, and was putting to him agitated
inquiries concerning the Great Western service when Gertie Higham
interposed, and released the naval man from a duty for which he was not
adequately equipped. Firmly and resolutely she conducted Miss Radford
to the correct platform, where they found seats in a compartment; and
Miss Radford in vain tried to remember whether it was that sitting
facing the engine or sitting with her back to the engine gave her a
headache. Gertie had obtained the tickets, and Miss Radford wanted
hers; Gertie retained possession. On the question