he came out of the little
shelter at the entrance of the promenade. She could taste it on her
lips, the wet drops clung to her eyelashes. Lillie, who had just
arrived to take her place, looked all out of curl like a moulting bird,
but both of them were spiritualized by the grey mist which blurred
their outlines and through which their lips and eyes showed fresh and
wistful.

"Pity you've got your new hat on, Carrie," said Lillie, shaking out her
knitted cap. Then she giggled. "But I suppose you were expecting to
meet your boy at the train."

Carrie shook her head. "No, I'm going back home first. I have to see
about supper."

"I expect you'll take the place on altogether when the season's over,"
said the girl.

"Not me!" said Caroline, answering the faint echo of condescension in
the other's tone. "I've told you time and again, Lillie, how it was I
went there. What's more, I'm telling Miss Ethel to-night that I can't
stop any longer."

She had not meant to do it precisely on this evening, but suddenly
found herself in possession of a full-fledged decision.

"What are you going to do after the prom. closes then," said Lillie.

"Take a post in an office in Flodmouth," said Caroline.

"But you can't do typewriting or shorthand," said Lillie, unimpressed.
"You won't find it so easy. I know I had my work set to get a decent
job to go to in October, and I'm thoroughly trained. I only took to
this on account of my health. I never----"

"You've told me that before," interposed Caroline shortly. "And I can
do typewriting. I have been taking lessons with Miss Wannock."

"Well, I wish you luck, I'm sure," said Lillie shortly, shutting down
the little window with a click to keep out the damp. She was
sufficiently good-hearted, but the trades union spirit was in her and
she did not like the idea that another girl should find a post without
going through exactly the same training as herself.

Caroline turned towards the main road where nobody could be
distinguished twenty yards away and men looked like trees walking; but
after a minute or two she noticed something in the general shape and
gait of a man coming her way which made her feel sure it was Wilson.
She wondered whether he would speak if he caught her up, or whether he
would fail to recognize her in the mist, or would give a brief good
afternoon and pass on. She slackened speed a little, for though she
was still angry with him it would be a "bit of