a pretty flower and vegetable garden, to say nothing
of a roomy and comfortable house. Off went Miss Charrington with her
head in the air, but two long days of search brought her to the sad
conviction that she would have to change her attitude with regard to
London prices, and that the agent had been right in speaking of the flat
as unusually cheap. She did not dare to take it, however, without a
family consultation; so she secured the option for a couple of days, and
went home with the story of her wanderings. The girls howled in unison
at the mention of the rent, but, like their sister, were obliged to come
round to the conclusion that the money must be paid.

"It is really and truly the best thing I could find in a central
position," said Philippa sadly. "The question is--ought we to give up
the idea of living in town, and take a little house in the suburbs? If
we went out in an unfashionable direction we could get one for half the
cost. I asked the agent, and he said there were any number to be had.
They run them up in a few months--rows and rows of them--quite nice,
compact little houses, with all modern conveniences--"

"I know! Thank you," interrupted Theo haughtily. "I've seen them from
the train--hundreds of them--exactly alike, with sunflowers in the front
garden, and the washing in the back, and such nice, sociable neighbours
over the palings!"

"It's all very well, Theo, but can we afford to be snobbish? We shall
have to pocket our pride, and save every penny-piece that is possible.
If the house would be cheaper--"

"I'm not so sure that it would. It is different for a man and his wife.
But you must remember that we should have four, perhaps five railway
contracts to add to the rent. Our great object is to be near our work,
and we might almost as well stay where we are as bury ourselves in an
out-of-the-way suburb. If we go to the flat, Madge will be almost next
door to the Slade School, the boys can come home for lunch, and Hope and
I will be near libraries and concerts, and have some chance of picking
up odd pieces of work. Suppose I go in for journalism? How am I to be
in the hum of things when I live a dozen miles away, and have probably a
bad service of trains?"

"Suppose I get accompanying to do at concerts? I intend to call on some
of the lady professionals who sing father's songs and ask them to give
me a chance. I shall have to get used to going about by myself at
night, but it