hen, mum?" said the cabman, anxiously.

"Only shaken--frightened," she said, in a feeble voice.

"And my coming brought it all up again, and upset you. It's jest like
me, mum, I'm allus a-doing something; ask my missus if I ain't."

"It did startle me," said Mrs Lane, recovering herself. "But you
wished to see me. I am better now, Netta," she said to the girl, who
clung to her. "Place a chair."

"No, no, arter you, Miss," said the cabman; "I'm nobody;" and he
persisted in standing. "'Scuse me, but I knows a real lady when I sees
one; I'll stand, thanky. You see, it was like this: I saw Tommy Runce
on the stand--him, you know, as brought you home from the front of the
club there--and I ast him, and he told me where he brought you. And
when I was talking to the missus last night, she says, says she, `Well,
Sam,' she says, `the least you can do is to drive up and see how the
poor woman is, even if you lose half a day.' `Well,' I says, `that's
just what I was a thinking,' I says, `only I wanted to hear you say it
too.' So you see, mum, thinking it was only decent like, I made bold to
come and tell you how sorry I am, and how it was all Ratty's fault; for
he's that beast of a horse--begging your pardon, mum, and yours too,
Miss--as it's impossible to drive. He oughter ha' been called
Gunpowder, for you never know when he's going off."

"It was _very_ kind and very thoughtful of you, and--and your wife,"
said Mrs Lane; "and indeed I thank you; but I was not hurt, only
shaken."

"Then it shook all the colour outer your face, mum, and outer yours too,
Miss," he said, awkwardly. "You'll excuse me, but you look as if you
wanted a ride every day out in the country."

As he spoke, the girl glanced at a bundle of violets in a broken glass
of water in the window; then the tears gathered in her eyes. She seemed
to struggle for a moment against her emotion, and then started up and
burst into a passion of weeping.

"My darling!" whispered Mrs Lane, catching her in her arms, and trying
to soothe her, "pray--pray don't give way."

"I've done it again," muttered Jenkles--"I'm allus a-doing it--it is my
natur' to."

The girl made a brave effort, dashed away the tears, shook back her long
dark hair, and tried to smile in the speaker's face, but so piteous and
sad a smile that Jenkles gave a gulp; for he had been glancing round the
room, and in that glance had seen a lady and her daughter living in a
state of semi-star