did quite right, only it was such a
shock to me, after beliving in him all these months."

"Of course it is" replied Helen soothingly "thank goodness I shall never
have cause to doubt Cyril's honour."

"Oh Helen what shall I do?" moaned poor Gladys "to think of going back
to sleep in the house with a villian like him "he might try to murder
me in the night."

"Why not stay here a few nights till you think of some plans" suggested
Helen "we have heaps of room."

"Oh no no" cried Gladys desperately "I dare not vex James like that and
besides Mr. Sheene would not have me in his house."

"Oh Gladys" cried Helen "he would be only too pleased to be of help to
you."

"No he would not" said Gladys "he hates me."

"Gladys!" screamed Helen "how can you?"

"It is true" said Gladys "and I will tell you why."

Helen gave a snort of disgust but she listened attentively for all that.

"You see" said Gladys "I had to walk from Holburn Station as you know
and it took me some time as I did not know the way; I had just caught
sight of this office from the opposite side of the road and was going to
cross, when the door opened and Mr. Sheene himself came out, he did not
see me at first, he appeared to be looking at the sky, but the moment he
caught sight of me his face darkened directly, he looked at me for a
minute with posative hatred in his eyes, and then turning round he went
into the office, to give an order, I presume that order was that no
women were to be let in, because the instant I asked to see you, I was
furiously assaulted by a presuming clerk, who called me a gossiping
woman, and no end of horrid names."

"Oh" said Helen rather crossly "I think you must be mistaken, but all
the same if you wont stay the night, you wont,"

"I really can not," replied Gladys.

"Did Cyril speak to you when he came out again?" enquired Helen.

"Dear me no" replied Gladys "I took jolly good care he should'nt, so I
bolted into a confectioners to escape him, where I had to go to the
trouble of buying a bath bun; but anything was better than not seeing
you."

"Dont be sarcastic" returned Helen hotly "you dont treasure me as much
as that."

"Dont I?" cried Gladys "when I wanted to see you, I was not going to be
snubbed by an insolent clerk, I would have braved him even if you had
not come though I thank my stars you did come all the same, it is very
degrading to be seen arguing with a common city clerk."

"So I should imagine" rep