d. It was when he went
back to buy those air-balloons for the children at the Home and he
happened to look round."

"Well, what is there in that? I don't say he is by any means my ideal
of a young man," said Miss Ethel. Then she added after a pause: "You
must not dream of mentioning the subject to Caroline. It is not our
affair."

They walked a few paces in silence, aware that they could not afford to
send Caroline away even if she were a bad girl, and yet shamed within
themselves by the knowledge.

"The Grahams seemed to think Godfrey has had serious money losses,"
remarked Mrs. Bradford at last. "Lucky he had Laura's money to fall
back on."

"Well, I think she is lucky in having him to make the most of her
capital," said Miss Ethel. "He has a wonderful head for business. Any
difficulties that he may have will be only temporary." They were both
talking without heeding particularly what they said, nervously
engrossed by the errand on which they were bent.

But at last they turned the corner of Emerald Avenue, and the blank
fact had to be faced. "That is our house, then. Number fifteen," said
Miss Ethel.

So they went through the little iron gate, and an old man came hobbling
across the street to speak to them. "Good morning, ladies," he said in
a high trembling voice. "I hear you're going to live here. I hear my
darter's a-going to have you for a neighbour. Well! well! Who'd
a-thought it?"

His intention was kindly, but his manner showed a sort of triumph
underneath: it was in some way gratifying to him that Miss Ethel, who
used to give him tobacco and other little comforts, had come down to
the same level as his daughter. Not that he had received anything
lately, because Miss Ethel had nothing to give, while his son-in-law
made good wages and his daughter let rooms. At any rate Miss Ethel
missed the power to give far more than he missed the tobacco; and that
from no desire to patronize--though perhaps she did like the gratifying
glow of that feeling a little--but because of the real goodness and
generosity at the bottom of her nature.

"I'm sure we shall be glad to have such good neighbours," she said
pleasantly.

"Yes, yes. My darter's family wants for nothing. They've gotten one
of these 'ere gramophones an all," chuckled the old man. "You'll hear
it through the wall and it'll mebbe cheer you up if you feel dowly.
But it's hard moving at your time of life."

Then he went off, chuckl