aking down a bundle of wooden spades, a red-faced farmer getting out
of his trap at the bank--all looked equally clear, lacking the usual
hazy effect of the damp air. It was partly for this reason, perhaps,
that Caroline felt as if everybody were pressing round her, and trying
to read her thoughts. Though the toy-shop woman called out a pleasant
"good morning," after her habit, Caroline thought she peered curiously
from behind her grove of spades, and that she was no doubt wondering
what it felt like to be made the "talk of the place"--especially by a
gentleman who allowed stout, middle-aged Mr. Creddle to threaten
horse-whipping with impunity. Then in going past the fish-shop, the
very cod seemed to turn a contemptuous, lack-lustre eye upon her, as if
they also said to each other: "There goes the girl who was made a fool
of by a man who never really meant to marry her."

But it was the worst when she caught sight of the hoarding on the
little Picture Hall. For suddenly the phrase which she had seen there
on the film flashed across her mind with such vividness that it seemed
to be written in dancing, bright letters across the sunshiny street: "I
swear I want to marry you."

She felt dizzy, then it passed. It was true enough, of course. Men
did always say that, as Aunt Creddle had told her. She was only one of
the millions of silly girls so easily deceived. And she went down the
street, feeling that from every eye streamed out a baleful ray which
reached and hurt the sore place in her heart.

At last she came to the bank; and the farmer was there at the counter,
pushing his notes across grudgingly--as does the man of all nations who
has wrung his hard living out of the soil. "I hate these no-ates," he
was saying. "They do-an't seem like money. But I doubt they'll last
my da-ay."

His drawl seemed to go in and out of Caroline's thoughts, soothing her
while she waited; then she heard a door open beyond the counter and saw
Laura come forth, attended by the bank-manager, and wearing a jaded,
excited look, as if she had been through a difficult interview in which
she had at last come off triumphant. On catching sight of Caroline she
flushed deeply, hesitating for a second, then coming forward with hand
outstretched. "Oh, I was wanting to see you, Miss Raby."

Caroline wondered why Laura should look like that on unexpectedly
meeting her, if this were so; but the farmer went out and his place at
the counter wa