prudent Stephen could find no objection to so innocent a
request.

"Well, really, I think we might rise to that. Put on warm coats, and we
will lock the door behind us and sally forth. An omnibus to Saint
Paul's, and another to Victoria Station, and back the best way we can.
I don't know the ropes yet, but we shall easily find out. It will do
Phil and Madge good, too, for they have hardly stirred out of the flat
this last fortnight."

No sooner said than done. It was astonishing how quickly hats and
jackets were donned, and in a quarter of an hour's time the four girls
were fearfully clambering up the narrow steps leading to the top of a
"City" 'bus, and taking their seats on the foremost benches. Hope took
an outside place, but begged to change seats before she had driven a
hundred yards; at every turn and crossing her heart died within her, and
she seemed to look death in the face. She hung on to Philippa's arm and
groaned incessantly, but when asked if she would like to return home,
"Oh no, no! I love it," she cried, and groaned again, more fearfully
than before.

The other occupants of the benches stared with curious gaze at the five
young people, whose animation was in such marked contrast to their own
phlegmatic calm; and Theo studied them in her turn, making up little
romances concerning them, as her nature was. "That fat dark man is
married to the little woman in blue. She was left an orphan, and he was
a friend of her father's. He offered to marry her, and she was lonely
and sad, and didn't care very much what she did. He is very kind to
her; he is carrying all the parcels; but her heart isn't satisfied. She
stares before her all the time, and never speaks... The girl with the
pearl beads serves in a shop. She is going home to a suburb, and her
`young man' will meet her at the station. They are going to have a
little shop together, and she is thinking how she will manage it. How
she does turn and twist! Her hair is like a great turban round her
head. She would be pretty if she would not spoil herself so... That
poor, sad-looking young fellow has just had notice to leave his
situation. He is thinking how he can tell his wife. He will put his
arms round her, and they will cry together. She will kiss him and say,
`For better, for worse, dear; for richer, for poorer.' Her voice will
be like music. He will look at her, and his face will shine. Oh dear!
I am crying myself. How stupid! I