!" On the evening of a day when Gertie had called upon
the last firm of the list, she told Bulpert, as they met near Marble
Arch, that if he cared to ask her now to be his wife she would accept
him.

"Right you are," he said. "Then we'll consider the matter as
practically settled."

They found Mr. Trew outside the shop when they returned; seeing them,
he assumed the attitude of a figure taking snuff, and Gertie knew from
this he was in good spirits. Mrs. Mills made the announcement that
supper was waiting--a special meal because royalty had gone by that day
to take train for Windsor--and Mr. Trew suggested Bulpert should have
first cut at the food, the while he and the little missy strolled up
and down to enjoy the evening air.

"I was bound to come along and see you," he said. "When I got the news
I nearly fell off my seat. Should have done, only that I was strapped
in. You remember Miss--what-was-her-name--we met at the Zoo that
Sunday afternoon."

"Miss Loriner."

Mr. Trew stopped to make his announcement in a dramatic form.

"She's going to get spliced."

"So I guessed," remarked Gertie.

"But can you guess who to?"

"I think I can."

"Oh," he said regretfully. "Of course, if I'm not the first in the
field with the news, there's an end of it. I sh'd say they'd be a very
comfortable, 'appy, get-on-well-together couple, once they settle down."

She made a remark in a trembling voice.

"Of course you hope they will," he echoed heartily. "You and him have
always got along well together. As I said, he hasn't took much time
about it. Finished his book, he tells me."

"Mr. Trew, who are you talking about?"

"Why, your cousin Clarence, of course. I know it's correct because I
got the information straight from the stable. And he would have called
round to tell you, only he was busy. Said he wanted to see you soon,
because he'd got a message. I won't be certain; there was a lot of
traffic about, but I rather fancy it was something in the nature of a
pressing invite."

CHAPTER VI.

The days that followed were racing days for Gertie. At Great
Titchfield Street a special order came in, and Madame held a kind of
rehearsal, that the girls might know exactly what to do if the
inspector called. The inspector represented the State, which, in the
opinion of Madame and Miss Rabbit and all the assistants, male and
female, was an interfering busybody hampering industry, and preventing
honest