workers from earning useful pay for unlimited overtime. To
Great Titchfield Street, by day, came private letters by express
messenger for Gertie, and more than one telegram; she generally found a
communication awaiting her on the return home to Praed Street. Miss
Rabbit accepted the statement that these came from Gertie's cousin,
referring to nothing more romantic than a visit to the country; in
private conversation with senior girls in the workroom, she said,
rather bitterly, that Miss Higham surely took her for a born idiot.

Clarence proved himself alert and quick witted in retort, with an
answer ready for every objection. When Gertie, as a final argument,
put forward the matter of evening dress, he took her straightway to a
celebrated firm (one-half of the lady passengers in public conveyances
along the route gave, as their instruction and appeal to conductors,
"Set me down as near as you can to Brown and Hodgkinson's!"), and there
was purchased a blouse of white lace--costing so much that Gertie, on
hearing the amount, had to clutch at one of the high chairs; and as
Clarence paid readily with gold, the polite young woman on the other
side of the counter assured him it was well worth the money. Gertie,
at another establishment, bought a pair of slippers, saying to herself
that they would come in handy, even though she did not go to Ewelme.
Reluctance to accept the invitation conveyed through Clarence was
supported at Praed Street by her aunt, who declared the girl would be
like a fish out of water; that she would wish herself home again before
she had been there the space of two minutes. But for Mrs. Mills's
over-earnest counsel it is likely Gertie might have kept her threat (or
promise) to back out at the last moment. On the Friday night, Mrs.
Mills mentioned that the Douglass people were probably only asking
Gertie in order to enjoy a laugh at her expense. The following
morning, to her aunt's astonishment and open dismay, Gertie took a
carefully-packed portmanteau along to the cloakroom at Paddington
Station. In the afternoon she found herself, for the first time in her
life, seated in a second-class carriage.

"Afraid you've had rather a rush," said her cousin.

"It isn't only that," she admitted, breathlessly. "I'm excited about
this visit."

"Not more so than I am. All the same, I feel very much indebted to
you, Gertie, for coming with me. The letter was worded in a way that
meant I was to brin