r sister so much. I'm glad she asked me to go and see
her. Is Mr. Bilton often at her house?--Don't misunderstand me, Mrs.
Mumford. It's only that I _do_ like men's society; there's no harm,
is there? And people like Mr. Bilton are very different from those
I've known; and I want to see more of them, you know.'

'There's no harm in saying that to _me_, Louise,' replied Mrs.
Mumford. 'But pray be careful not to seem "forward." People
think--and say--such disagreeable things.'

Miss Derrick was grateful, and again gave an assurance that repose
and modesty should be the rule of her life.

At the theatre on Monday evening she exhibited a childlike enjoyment
which her companions could not but envy. The freshness of her
sensibilities was indeed remarkable, and Emmeline observed with
pleasure that her mind seemed to have a very wholesome tone. Louise
might commit follies, and be guilty of bad taste to any extent, but
nothing in her savoured of depravity.

Tuesday she spent at home, pretending to read a little, and
obviously thinking a great deal. On Wednesday morning she proposed
of a sudden that Emmeline should go up to town with her on a
shopping expedition. They had already turned over her wardrobe,
numerous articles whereof were condemned by Mrs. Mumford's taste,
and by Louise cheerfully sacrificed; she could not rest till new
purchases had been made. So, after early luncheon, they took train
to Victoria, Louise insisting that all the expenses should be hers.
By five o'clock she had laid out some fifteen pounds, vastly to her
satisfaction. They took tea at a restaurant, and reached Sutton not
long before Mumford's return.

On Friday they went to London again, to call upon Mrs. Grove. Louise
promised that this should be her last "outing" for a whole week. She
admitted a feeling of restlessness, but after to-day she would
overcome it. And that night she apologised formally to Mumford for
taking his wife so much from home.

'Please don't think I shall always be running about like this. I
feel that I'm settling down. We are going to be very comfortable and
quiet.'

And, to the surprise of her friends, more than a week went by before
she declared that a day in town was absolutely necessary. Mr.
Higgins had sent her a fresh supply of money, as there were still a
few things she needed to purchase. But this time Emmeline begged her
to go alone, and Louise seemed quite satisfied with the arrangement.

Early in the aftern