oo is, that there is a time when a woman's patience may be
exhausted. Yes, Mrs. Dredge, you may look at me with as round eyes as
you please--I know they are round though I can't see them, but I will
say, if it's my last dying breath, that the moment for my 'continual
reader' to return has arrived. Miss Slowcum, no doubt you'll
corroborate what I say, ma'am."

"It's hot weather for young bright flowers to shed their fragrance on
the London streets," replied Miss Slowcum; "it's the kind of weather
when flowers fade. I should imagine, Mrs. Mortlock, that your
'continual reader' was doing better for herself in the country."

Mrs. Mortlock's face became very red.

"Better for herself, is she?" she said, "and is that all the thanks I
get for keeping my post vacant, and living through days the weariness
of which none may know. If Miss Primrose Mainwaring is doing better
for herself in the country she is welcome to stay there. The post is a
good one, a light and an easy one, and I can get many another lass to
fill it."

"I think, ma'am," said Mrs. Dredge, whose face had grown wonderfully
smooth and pleasant of late, "that the dear girls will all be in town
this week, and most likely Miss Primrose will come to pay you a visit.
Oh, they are nice girls, pretty, elegant girls, just the kind of girls
my good man would like to have been papa to. I can't help shivering,
even now when I think of that wicked man Dove, and what a state he put
dear little Daisy into."

"If praises of the Mainwarings is to begin," answered Mrs. Mortlock in
her tartest voice, "what I say is, let me retire. It's all very well
for them as has right to talk well of the absent, but when one of the
absent ones is neglecting her duty the lady who has weak eyes feels
it. Miss Slowcum, ma'am, have you any objection to moving with me into
the drawing-room? I can lend you that pattern you admired so much for
tatting if you read me the latest gossip from the evening papers,
ma'am."

Mrs. Mortlock rose from her chair, and, accompanied by Miss Slowcum,
left the room. Miss Slowcum took a ladylike interest in all kinds of
needlework, and the desire to possess the tatting pattern overcame
her great reluctance to read aloud to the very tart old lady.

Mrs. Mortlock placed herself in the most comfortable arm-chair the
room afforded, and having secured her victim, began instantly to
tyrannize over her.

"Now, Miss Slowcum, read up chirrupy and cheerful please. None