t it's a dratted shame as you should shoulder everybody's
troubles, that it is."

"Oh, Ann--as though I do! And then how about yourself, dear--what of the
Baxters and the Ryders, and Mrs. Tipping's baby and--"

"My land!" cried Mrs. Trapes, "that chop'll be a cinder!" and she
hurried away.

"Poor little Hazel," said Hermione, coming to a small corner cupboard.
"She's such a dear, quaint little person! You must have seen her on the
stairs, Mr. Geoffrey."

"I see so many on the stairs, Miss Hermione, and they are always small
and generally quaint."

"Hazel's got a game leg, Geoff," said Spike, "an' she hops around
on a little crutch. She told me yesterday she thought you was--I mean
were--a fairy prince, because you always bow an' tip your lid to her
when she says 'good morning.' So now she waits for you every morning,
Geoff--says it makes her feel like she was a real fairy princess in a
story-book. Sounds kind o' batty to me, though."

Hermione was standing on tiptoe endeavouring to reach a certain bottle
upon the top shelf where were ranged many others of various shapes and
sizes, when Ravenslee's big hand did it for her; but when she would have
taken it, he shook his head.

"I should like to go with you, if I may," he said, "to be--er--formally
introduced to the princess."

"But--" began Hermione, hesitating.

"Also I could carry the bottle for you."

"Why, if you will do all that--" she smiled.

"Thanks!" he answered, and putting the bottle in his pocket, he opened
the door.

"Hey, Geoff," Spike called after him, "you've forgot to kiss the turkey
good-by!"

"Why then, you can do it for me, Spike!" he answered, and followed
Hermione out upon the landing.

Side by side they descended the stair, in the doing of which her soft
shoulder met him once, and once he thrilled to feel her hand touch his
in the shadow, but this hand was hastily withdrawn; also, though the
light was dim, he saw that she was frowning and biting her red underlip.

"These stairs are rather--narrow, aren't they?" said she, drawing to the
wall.

"Delightfully!" he answered, drawing to the rail; and so they went down
very silently with the width of the stairs between them.

CHAPTER XIII

WHEREIN MAY BE FOUND SOME PARTICULARS OF THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF PERHAPS

Mrs. Bowker was a small woman, worn and faded like her carpets and
curtains and the dress she wore, but, like them, she was very clean and
neat.

"'T is real good