efully made up
the fire and set a nice hot supper on the table.

"How tired you look dear" she said as she helped him off with his over
coat.

"Well I suppose I do" replied Cyril crossly.

"Did you find your friend at home?" enquired Helen.

"Yes I did" said Cyril hastily pouring out his beer.

"Well that's all right" said Helen cheerily putting a lump of coal on
the fire.

"No it's not all right" replied Cyril "for pity's sake leave that fire
alone, I'm not going to sit up all night."

Helen smiled "have you a tooth ache dear" she asked.

"No I've not" said Cyril "look here Helen, have you seen a little card
about the floor today?"

"Yes dear" replied Helen "a little Xmas card, that Mrs. Gingham sent you
last year."

"Oh yes" said Cyril, trying to look as though that was what he meant
"where did you put it?"

"In the desk dear" replied Helen producing a faded little card, which in
an ordinary moment Cyril would have tossed into the fire, but now he
carefully placed it in his note book.

"By the way Helen," said Cyril "I find I must go to Piccadilly again
tomorrow as I did not get through my bussiness today, have breakfast at
8-30 will you?"

"Yes dear" replied Helen, and after saying goodnight to him, she put out
the lamp, taking care to drop the pawn ticket, (which had been in her
pocket all this time) on the hearth rug, where she had found it.

Helen slept very soundly indeed and she therefore was awake early. She
got dressed quickly, and went down to the sitting room.

Pulling up the blind she glanced quickly round the room. The ticket
still lay where she had dropped it; Cyril had evidently not been down.

By a quarter to 9 he made his appearance.

"Now Helen hurry up with the tea!" he cried "it is getting late."

"That's no fault of mine" replied Helen quietly "time will fly you
know."

"Who said it would'nt?" asked Cyril snappishly, sitting down in the
grumps.

"Why on earth does'nt Marshland send up the silver tea pot?" asked Helen
artfully "I hate this old brown china concern; I'll ring for the other;
and the sugar bowl too."

"No, no please dont," cried Cyril nervously "I really cant wait."

"Well if it is'nt sent up tonight I shall make a row about it" replied
Helen crossly "I cant bear keeping the silver for special occasions."

Cyril did not notice the ticket so Helen went and picked it up, "what's
this?" she asked curiously.

"What's what?" asked Cyril turning sharply round.