orders of his superiors, but very ingeniously, with the connivance
of his fellow-driver of the van, he had arranged for his place to be
taken on the van for the rest of the evening by a man known to his
fellow-driver--but just now out of work--for the sum of one shilling, to
be paid within a week. He was quite determined not to leave Gertie alone
again, when once the journey to Chiswick had actually begun, until he
had seen her landed in her own home.

The place of meeting, too, had suited Gertie very well. She had left
Turner Road abruptly, without a word to anyone, the instant that the
Major's military-looking back had been seen by her to pass within the
swing-doors of the "Queen's Arms" for his usual morning refreshment.
Then she had occupied herself chiefly by collecting her various things
at their respective shops, purchased by Frank's two-pound-ten, and
putting them on. She had had a clear threepence to spare beyond the few
shillings she had determined to put by out of the total, and had
expended it by a visit to the cinematograph show in Victoria Street.
There had been a very touching series of pictures of the "Old Home in
the Country," and the milking of the cows, with a general atmosphere of
roses and church-bells, and Gertie had dissolved into tears more than
once, and had cried noiselessly into her new pocket-handkerchief drawn
from her new hand-bag. But she had met Frank quite punctually, for,
indeed, she had burned her boats now entirely and there was nothing else
left for her to do.

* * * * *

At the entrance to Chiswick High Street another brilliant thought struck
her. She paused for Frank to come up.

"Frankie," she said, "you won't say anything about the two-pound-ten,
will you? I shouldn't like them to think--"

"Of course not," said Frank gravely, and after a moment, noticing that
she glanced at him again uneasily, understood, and fell obediently to
the rear once more.

* * * * *

About a quarter of a mile further on her steps began to go slower. Frank
watched her very carefully. He was not absolutely sure of her even now.
Then she crossed over the street between two trams, and Frank dodged
after her. Then she turned as if to walk back to Hammersmith. In an
instant Frank was at her side.

"You're going the wrong way," he said.

She stopped irresolutely, and had to make way for two or three hurrying
people, to pass.

"Oh, Fran