other sisters, and thought herself too fine for those who wanted her,
but was not fine enough for those she wanted. So one sister married a
farm labourer who became a prosperous farmer, the other did not disdain
a chimney sweep, and both now possessed houses and children and warm
places of their own in the world, while the prettiest still tripped
with a rather over-bright smile about the Thorhaven streets, aware of
really superior refinement, but not finding much comfort in it.

She stopped to speak to Caroline--and without knowing why, Caroline
felt as if a cold wind out of the future had blown drearily across her
mind.

"Waiting for Wilf?" asked the girl, smiling. "He must have missed you,
for I met him a minute ago. I suppose you are going to this new play
there is on at the Cinema."

"Oh, I don't know," said Caroline vaguely. "I don't see much of Wilf
now. Lovely night, isn't it?"

This was crude but sufficient, and the woman went on, leaving Caroline
once more aimlessly pondering. At last she began to walk slowly down
the Avenue to the Creddles' house, calling out at the door as usual:
"Hello, aunt!"

Mrs. Creddle at once came out of the kitchen, her jolly face rather
anxious. "You never came near yesterday, Carrie. We couldn't think
what had gotten you."

"I was busy at home when I wasn't at the prom.," said Caroline. "I've
come now to see if Winnie would like to go with me to the pictures."

"Well----" Mrs. Creddle hesitated. "Your uncle was in a fine taking
on Thursday night. He seems to have an idea in his head that you were
with somebody you daren't speak about. But you'd never have aught to
do with a married man, I'm sure, Carrie."

"Well, you may make your mind easy, aunt. The man I was with was
single. But I'm not going to say anything more about him. If I have
to be answerable to you and uncle for every young fellow I chance to
walk home from the prom. with----"

"You know we don't expect that," said Mrs. Creddle, still a little
uneasy. "But I told your uncle I could trust you, and I do."

"Where is uncle?" said Caroline, seizing on the nearest pretext for
changing the subject.

"Oh, he's gone to the Buffaloes," said Mrs. Creddle; and though her
tone implied contempt and disapproval, it was but the natural prejudice
of all good women for an institution purely masculine. "They have a
Grand Council or some such rubbish to-night," she added; then she
raised her voice and calle