rent mood its sordidness
only would have struck him. Yes, there they were in the distance;
he knew Robinette's white dress and the figure of the boy beside
her. Hang that boy! Were they really going to buy hairpins? If
so, then a hair-dresser's he must find. Lavendar turned up the
little street that led from the sea-front, scanning all the
signs--Boots--Dairies--Vegetable shops--Heavens! were there
nothing but vegetable and boot shops in Weston? Boots again. At last
a Hairdresser; Lavendar stood in the doorway until he made sure
that Robinette and the middy had turned in that direction, and
then he boldly entered the shop.

To his horror he found himself confronted by a smiling young woman,
whose own very marvellous erection of hair made him think she must be
used as an advertisement for the goods she supplied.

In another moment Robinette and the boy would be upon him, and he must
be found deep in fictitious business. He cast one agonized glance at
the mysteries of the toilet that surrounded him on every side, then
clearing his throat, he said modestly but firmly, that he wanted to
buy a pair of curling tongs for a lady.

"These are the thing if you wish a Marcel wave," was the reply, "but
just for an ordinary crimp we sell a good many of the plain ones."

"Yes, thank you. They will do; the lady--my sister, also wished--"

"A little 'addition,' was it, sir?" she moved smilingly to a drawer.
"A few pin curls are very easily adjusted, or would our guinea
switch--"

At this moment the boy and Robinette entered the shop. Lavendar was
paying for the curling tongs, and not a muscle of his face relaxed.
"Oh, here you are. I have just finished my business," he said, turning
round, "I thought we might encounter one another somewhere!"

Robinette and Carnaby exchanged knowing glances of which Lavendar was
perfectly conscious, but he stood by while Mrs. Loring bought her
hairpins, and Carnaby endeavoured to persuade her to invest in a few
"pin curls." "Not an hour before it is absolutely necessary, Middy
dear," she said; "then I shall bear it as bravely as I can. Come now,
carry the hairpins for me, and let me take Mr. Lavendar out of this
shop, or he will be tempted to buy more than he needs."

"Oh, no!" Lavendar remarked pointedly. "I have what I came for!"

"Don't forget your parcel," Carnaby exclaimed, darting after Lavendar
as they went into the street. "You've left it on the counter."

"How careless!" said Mark.