roats she will have elected to
be a saint, and the martyr's crown will be hers. If suicide is not to
her taste, I would recommend her to resort to what is called criminal
practices. Being ill, she has magnificent advantages if she wishes to
start business as a begging-letter writer; burglary is not suitable for
women, but there are splendid openings for confidence tricksters and
shoplifting would be a fine profession if it were not overcrowded by the
upper middle classes.'

Betty dabbed her eyes vigorously. Her mouth tightened. She looked
despairingly at the desolate half circle of London Wall Buildings and
Salisbury House. Then she gave Farwell her hand for a moment and
hurriedly walked away. As she entered the attic the candle was still
burning. Victoria was in bed and had forgotten it; she had already
fallen into stertorous sleep.

Next morning Victoria got up and dressed silently. She did not seem any
worse; and with this Betty was content, though she only got short
answers to her questions. All that day Victoria seemed well enough. She
walked springily; at times she exchanged a quick joke with a customer.
She laughed even when a young man, carried away for a moment beyond the
spirit of food which reigned supreme in the P.R.R., touched her hand and
looked into her eyes.

As the afternoon wore Victoria felt creeping over her the desperate
weariness of the hour.

At a quarter to six she made up her checks. There was a shortfall of one
and a penny.

'How do you account for it?' asked the manageress.

'Sure I don't know, Miss,' said Victoria helplessly. 'I always give
checks. Somebody must have slipped out without paying.'

'Possibly.' The manageress grew more tense faced than ever. Her bust
expanded. 'I don't care. Of course you know the rule. You pay half and
the desk pays half.'

'I couldn't help it, Miss,' said Victoria miserably. Sixpence halfpenny
was a serious loss.

'No more could I. I think I can tell you how it happened, though,' said
the manageress with a vague smile. 'I'm an old hand. A customer of yours
had a tuck out for one and a penny. You gave him a check. Look at the
foil and you'll see.'

'Yes, Miss, here it is,' said Victoria anxiously.

'Very well. Then he went upstairs on the Q.T. and had a cup of coffee.
Follow!'

'Yes, Miss.'

'One of the girls gave him a twopenny check. Then he went out and handed
in the twopenny check. He kept the other one in his pocket.'

'Oh, Miss. . . .