'With Mr. Bullivant? I went nowhere with him.'

'But I _saw_ you both get into the bus in Kennington Park Road.'

'Did you?' Monica returned coldly. 'I can't help it if Mr. Bullivant
happened to be going the same way.'

'Oh, very well! I thought you was to be trusted. It's nothing to me--'

'You behave very foolishly, Miss Eade,' exclaimed the other, whose
nerves at this moment would not allow her to use patience with the
jealous girl. 'I can only tell you that I have never thought again of
Mr. Bullivant since he left the bus somewhere in Clapham Road. I'm
tired of talking about such things.'

'Now, see here, don't be cross. Come and walk a bit and tell me--'

'I'm too tired. And there's nothing whatever to tell you.'

'Oh, well, if you're going to be narsty?'

Monica walked on, but the girl caught her up.

'Don't be so sharp with me, Miss Madden. I don't say as you wanted him
to go in the bus with you. But you might tell me what he had to say.'

'Nothing at all; except that he wished to know where I was going, which
was no business of his. I did what I could for you. I told him that if
he asked you to go up the river with him I felt sure you wouldn't
refuse.'

'Oh, you did!' Miss Eade threw up her head. 'I don't think it was a
very delicate thing to say.'

'You are very unreasonable. I myself don't think it was very delicate,
but haven't you worried me to say something of the kind?'

'No, that I'm sure I haven't! Worrited you, indeed!'

'Then please never to speak to me on the subject again. I'm tired of
it.'

'And what did _he_ say, when you'd said that?'

'I can't remember.'

'Oh, you _are_ narsty to-day! Really you are! If it had been the other
way about, I'd never have treated _you_ like this, that I wouldn't.'

'Good-night!'

They were close to the door by which Messrs. Scotcher's resident
employees entered at night. Monica had taken out her latchkey. But Miss
Eade could not endure the thought of being left in torturing ignorance.

'_Do_ tell me!' she whispered. 'I'll do anything for you I can. Don't
be unkind, Miss Madden!'

Monica turned back again.

'If I were you, I wouldn't be so silly. I can't do more than assure you
and promise you that I shall never listen to Mr. Bullivant.'

'But what did he say about _me_, dear?'

'Nothing.'

Miss Eade kept a mortified silence.

'You had much better not think of him at all. I would have more pride.
I wish I could make you see him as I d