thin lips together,
looked at the clock, and inquired suddenly--

"Can you tell me the nearest way from here to Maida Vale?"

It was a direct intimation of departure, and Nan accepted it as such,
giving the desired information, without protest, it is true, but in a
manner absolutely devoid of offence. It was raining heavily by this
time, and she would fain have offered to whistle for a hansom, but she
felt that such a proceeding would have been interpreted as an additional
offence. When the visitor rose, however, she insisted upon accompanying
her downstairs, where in the privacy of the vestibule she allowed
herself the luxury of a farewell appeal.

"I am so sorry that it has been a failure! You are vexed with me for
having brought you here for nothing, and on such a terrible afternoon
too, but I _meant_ well! I'm young, and foolish, and don't know how to
do things properly, but I couldn't bear to keep everything to myself,
and I could think of no better way. You'll forgive me, won't you? I'm
so sorry you've been bored!"

Miss Beveridge looked at her swiftly, and as she looked her thin
features twitched beneath her veil, and two little patches of colour
showed themselves on her cheeks.

"There is nothing to forgive," she said hurriedly. "Nothing on your
side, at least. I was taken by surprise and did not quite understand.
If you will allow me I will come again another time."

"Will you--will you really? Oh, it would make me so happy!" cried Nan
rapturously. "Thank you so much! Next Saturday, perhaps? I shall look
forward to it all the week."

She motioned the servant aside, and, accompanying her visitor to the
door, insisted upon opening her umbrella and helping to tuck up the
well-worn skirt. Her bonnie face shone out under the light as she waved
her hand and cried out eagerly, "Come soon! Come soon!" Miss Beveridge
shut her lips tightly and did not reply in words, but she did something
which was more expressive--she dropped her skirt into the mud on purpose
to wave a response! The November evening was dark and cheerless enough
to strike a chill to the stoutest heart, but one solitary woman walked
through it with a new glow at her heart. The warm light streaming out
into the darkness, the sweet welcoming voice, were as meat and drink to
her starved soul.

In the drawing-room the girls awaited Nan's return with some anxiety,
but, to their amazement, she came bounding upstairs two steps at a tim