d been quite misplaced, when a bow from her sister and a lift of
the hat by the young man caused her to stop short and raise her fine
brows inquiringly.

"Rose!"

"I--I spoke to him one day," explained Rose, pink as her pinkest
namesake. "About Bruce."

"Who's Bruce?"

"That's Bruce--his dog."

Frances came running up. "Rose," said she indignantly, "did you bow to
that man?"

"He is our neighbour next door," mumbled Rose.

"I know that. So is the wood-carter. But is that a reason why you
should bow to him? Do you know who those people are?"

"They are perfectly respectable people, I believe," said Rose, growing
restive.

"DRAPERS," said Frances witheringly.

"I shouldn't care if they were chimney-sweeps. They have a beautiful
dog, and young Mr Breen is very kind to him, and I--I thanked him for
it." "Oh, Deb!"

"Was that necessary, my dear?"

"Perhaps not. But I did."

"Well, be careful, Rosie. We are not at Redford now, you know. Girls
living alone and going about in public places--"

"And that sort of person," Frances broke in crossly, "always takes
advantage of a little notice. Why, he looked at you as if you were
friends and equals, Rose!"

Rose turned to retort again, but feeling the weight of opinion against
her, forbore. And she was glad she had never mentioned the
circumstances under which she had made poor Peter Breen's acquaintance.

On a later afternoon she was in the attic room, sewing at a frock for
Robbie Goldsworthy--Robert Pennycuick, after the grandfather who had
been expected to leave much money--while Deb and Frances entertained
visitors downstairs. Old Keziah had brought her tea and cakes, and she
had had a pleasant time with her work and her thoughts, and her view of
Bruce and his premises, when suddenly Frances flounced in.

"Now, madam!" exclaimed the irate young lady, "we have to thank you for
this. What did I say? Give these people an inch and they will take an
ell--a mile indeed, if they can get it."

"What people?" inquired Rose faintly.

"Those Breen people--those DRAPERS. They have had the cheek to come and
call on us--to call and leave their cards, 'First and third Wednesday',
as if they expected us to call back again!"

"Who came?"

"Mrs and Miss--with half the shop upon their backs. Debbie"--Deb was
coming in behind her--"you are NOT going to return the call of those
people, I TRUST?"

"Oh, I don't know," smiled Deb easily. "It would please them, and it
wou