when, after a couple of hours, Mr
Evans said--

"Master Tommy, we're going to lunch. You've had yours, so you can stop
here, and keep shop till we return."

"I have to go to Miss Bousfield's at 2:30," said I.

"To go where?" they all inquired. And as I blushed very red, and tried
to explain myself away, they made a great deal out of my unlucky
admission.

"You're young for that sort of thing," said one. "I didn't go courting
myself before I was fifteen."

"I'd made up my mind Sarah Bousfield was going to be an old maid," said
another. "Heigho! it's never too late to mend."

"I hear she keeps sugar-plums for good little girls," said another.

"And the bad little ones get whipped and put in the corner."

"He mustn't go like that, anyhow," said Mr Evans, who, for a
responsible head clerk of a big business, was the most flippant person I
had ever met; "look at his hair--all out of curl! Come here, little
girl, and be made tidy."

Once at Hummer's I had come in second for the half-mile under fourteen,
and been captain of my side in the junior tug of war! Now I was to have
my hair curled publicly!

It was no use resisting. I was held fast while Evans with a long
penholder made ringlets of my back hair, and Scroop, with his five
fingers, made a fringe of my front. My hat, moreover, was decorated
with quills by way of feathers, and a fan made of blotting-paper was
thrust into my hands. Then I was pronounced to be nice and tidy, and
fit to go and join the other little girls.

I fear that the energy with which, as soon as I was released, I deranged
my locks and flung the feathers from my hat, amused my persecutors as
much as it solaced me. I was conscious of their hilarious greetings as
I strolled up the street, trying to walk in a straight masculine way,
but hideously conscious of blushing cheeks and nervous gait. I so far
forgot myself that, in my eagerness to display my male superiority, I
jostled against a lady, and disgraced myself by swaggering on without
even apologising for my rudeness--when, to my consternation, the lady
uttered my name, "Tommy."

It was my mother! I was still within sight of the office. How Evans
and his lot would make merry over this _contretemps_! They wouldn't
know who it was who was putting her hand on my shoulder. And yet I am
glad to say that I was spared that day the disgrace of being ashamed of
my own dear mother. Let the fellows think what they liked. If they ha