to assert yourself and be your natural self for fear of what a
woman might say! Oh, if I were a man! Oh, if I were your husband, my
dear! I'd keep you in order; I'd tell you straight out what I thought
of you." Then aloud: "Good-afternoon, Aunt Gertrude! Mind the
door-step. So awkward! _Hope_ you will not be too tired. _Good-bye_!"

The door closed, and brother and sister drew back and gazed at one
another with bright, excited eyes. "Well?" queried one. "Well,"
answered the other. Then came the rush of feet on the floor, and down
hurried the girls, one after the other, questioning, staring, agape with
curiosity.

"Well--well--well--what did they say? Were they furious? Were they
amiable? Did you stick to your point? Are they coming again? What is
decided? Tell us quickly! Tell us at once!"

"It is quite decided," said Stephen gravely. "We are going to London."
He put his arm round his sister's waist, and looked down at her with
admiration. "Phil, you were glorious! You convinced _me_, at least, if
you failed with the others. My last lingering doubt has disappeared.
I'll begin preparations this very day."

"Here endeth the first volume!" chanted Madge shrilly. "Now for
excitement; now for romance; now for the third volume, with its honour
and glory!"

But Philippa shivered and was silent. The moment of reaction had come,
and in her heart she said: "But the second volume lies between, and in
the second volume are all the trials and difficulties. Oh, it may be a
long, long fight before we get to the happy ending!"

CHAPTER FOUR.

THE REMOVAL.

Two months later the plunge was taken. The Charrington family said
good-bye to their picturesque country home, and established themselves
in the top flat of a massive red building in the picturesque district of
the Tottenham Court Road. With one exception the rooms were small;
there was no passage to speak of; the coal-cellar was in pleasing
proximity to the drawing-room door; the view consisted of a forest of
chimney-stacks, and the air was thick with smuts. When Philippa made
her first survey of the premises she felt that she was indeed coming
down in the world; but when she heard the rent demanded she changed her
mind with a shock of surprise. It was preposterous--incredible! The
price of a palace rather than of a sooty tenement midway between earth
and sky! For that price in the country one could have a tennis-lawn,
and a stable, and