'd post it to Pa; it
would be the death of him!"

And then followed the thousand and one details of the wandering life: your
name on the red list, the list handed in at the station; the journeys at
reduced fares; the music for twelve instruments, forty executants, sent on
to the theater a fortnight in advance.

"And matinees are paid for now. And you know, Lily, in the Federation you
can get a solicitor free."

"That's a good thing to know," thought Lily, "for my divorce from that
rusty biker!"

Oh, how she hated pros, now! The sight of them in the corridor, looking at
her with glistening eyes, made her want to put out her tongue at them! But
she preferred not to see:

"I don't like to seem stuck-up with them, it's not polite," she observed.

Nevertheless, she shrugged her shoulders when one of them who, no doubt,
had known her when she was "that high," blew kisses to her from the tips
of his fingers, with a gesture straight at her heart, through the window.

And the train rushed on, rushed on. They were nearing Warrington. The
slopes, on either side, bristled with chimneys and houses, houses, endless
roofs ... a Lancashire rid of its black smoke, like an extinct and silent
crater ... Warrington!

A few minutes' wait. There was a general hustle, pros stretching their
legs, running to the refreshment-room for a drink, some seeking seats in
the train, others saying good-by:

"Write to me, eh? Cathedral Hotel, Melbourne."

And a shake of the hand; so long; perhaps for ever. More basket trunks
were being trundled down the platform. A wife was leaving her husband: six
months, twelve months, without meeting; who could tell? Or else, perhaps,
between two trains, as the luck of the tours would have it; and they
seemed very fond of each other, too; Lily thought it very pretty. But she
had other things to do than sentimentalize. She handed out her parcels to
Glass-Eye and then, standing on the platform, said good-by to the Three
Graces:

"Hope you'll have a good journey! _Au revoir_! Send me some post-cards,"
said Lily. "Address them to the theater, I love that! Good-by! Ta-ta!"

The train started. Lily waved her handkerchief to the Three Graces.

One more separation; one more little rent: Lily had had so many in her
life. As far back as she could remember there had been heads at the
carriage-window, like that; ships standing out to sea; trains rushing into
the night. But, this time, she was alone, with her maid. A