ibute much to the comfort
of Lady Ongar. They were now on the little pier at Yarmouth, and in five
minutes every one there knew who she was, and knew also that there had
been some disagreement between her and the little foreigner. The eyes of
the boatmen, and of the drivers, and of the other travellers, and of the
natives going over to the market at Lymington, were all on her, and the
eyes also of all the idlers of Yarmouth who had congregated there to
watch the despatch of the early boat. But she bore it well, seating
herself, with her maid beside her, on one of the benches on the deck,
and waiting there with patience till the boat should start. Sophie once
or twice muttered the word "disgrace!" but beyond that she remained
silent.

They crossed over the little channel without a word, and without a word
made their way up to the railway-station. Lady Ongar had been too
confused to get tickets for their journey at Yarmouth, but had paid on
board the boat for the passage of the three persons--herself, her maid,
and Sophie. But, at the station at Lymington, the more important
business of taking tickets for the journey to London became necessary.
Lady Ongar had thought of this on her journey across the water, and,
when at the railway-station, gave her purse to her maid, whispering her
orders. The girl took three first-class tickets, and then going gently
up to Madam Gordeloup, offered one to that lady. "Ah, yes; very well; I
understand," said Sophie, taking the ticket. "I shall take this;" and
she held the ticket up in her hand, as though she had some specially
mysterious purpose in accepting it.

She got into the same carriage with Lady Ongar and her maid, but spoke
no word on her journey up to London. At Basingstoke she had a glass of
sherry, for which Lady Ongar's maid paid. Lady Ongar had telegraphed for
her carriage, which was waiting for her, but Sophie betook herself to a
cab. "Shall I pay the cabman, ma'am?" said the maid. "Yes," said Sophie,
"or stop. It will be half-a-crown. You had better give me the
half-crown." The maid did so, and in this way the careful Sophie added
another shilling to her store--over and above the twenty pounds--knowing
well that the fare to Mount Street was eighteenpence.

Chapter XXXV

Doodles In Mount Street

Captain Clavering and Captain Boodle had, as may be imagined, discussed
at great length and with much frequency the results of the former
captain's negotiations with