ntidy room, smelling of smoky lamp; but all
I saw distinctly at the moment was Miss Sellars with her arms above her
head, pinning her hat upon her straw-coloured hair.

With the sight of her before me in the flesh, my feelings underwent a
sudden revulsion. During the few minutes she had kept me waiting outside
the door I had suffered from an almost uncontrollable desire to turn the
handle and rush in. Now, had I acted on impulse, I should have run out.
Not that she was an unpleasant-looking girl by any means; it was the
atmosphere of coarseness, of commonness, around her that repelled me.
The fastidiousness--finikinness; if you will--that would so often spoil
my rare chop, put before me by a waitress with dirty finger-nails,
forced me to disregard the ample charms she no doubt did possess, to
fasten my eyes exclusively upon her red, rough hands and the one or two
warts that grew thereon.

"You're a very naughty boy," told me Miss Sellars, finishing the
fastening of her hat. "Why didn't you come in and see me in the
dinner-_h_our? I've a great mind not to kiss you."

The powder she had evidently dabbed on hastily was plainly visible upon
her face; the round, soft arms were hidden beneath ill-fitting sleeves
of some crapey material, the thought of which put my teeth on edge. I
wished her intention had been stronger. Instead, relenting, she
offered me her flowery cheek, which I saluted gingerly, the taste of it
reminding me of certain pale, thin dough-cakes manufactured by the wife
of our school porter and sold to us in playtime at four a penny, and
which, having regard to their satisfying quality, had been popular with
me in those days.

At the top of the kitchen stairs Miss Sellars paused and called down
shrilly to Mrs. Peedles, who in course of time appeared, panting.

"Oh, me and Mr. Kelver are going out for a short walk, Mrs. Peedles. I
shan't want any supper. Good night."

"Oh, good night, my dear," replied Mrs. Peedles. "Hope you'll enjoy
yourselves. Is Mr. Kelver there?"

"He's round the corner," I heard Miss Sellars explain in a lower voice;
and there followed a snigger.

"He's a bit shy, ain't he?" suggested Mrs. Peedles in a whisper.

"I've had enough of the other sort," was Miss Sellars' answer in low
tones.

"Ah, well; it's the shy ones that come out the strongest after a
bit--leastways, that's been my experience."

"He'll do all right. So long."

Miss Sellars, buttoning a burst glove, rejoined