Fan

ed her that she was living, if not on, at any rate in the neighbourhood of a volcano. One morning that was not wet nor foggy Miss Starbrow made up her mind to visit the West End to do a

terwards to Piccadilly Circus, looking at all the shops, and then have lunch at the St. Ja

d infinitely more attractive appearance-she did not know why. But the reason was very simple. She was no longer a beggar, hungry, in rags, ashamed, and feeling that she had no right to be there, but wa

king hands with Miss Starbrow, and bowing to Fan, he accompanied them for some distance up Regent Street. Fan walked a little ahead. Mr. Mortimer seemed very much taken with her, and was most anxious to find out all about her, and to know how she came to be in Miss Starbrow's company. The answers he got were short and not explicit; and whether he resent

ther, and had spent the last decade trying to pick up a woman with money to mend his broken fortunes-this watery-eyed, smirking old beau, who wrote himself down young, going about Regent Street on a cold November day without overcoat or spectacles-this man had had the audacity to propose marriage to her! She had sent him about his business with a burst of scorn, which shook his old, battered moral constitution like a tempest of wind and thunder, and he had not forgotten it.

ly Circus, Miss Sta

king rather sharply. "I have

t of anger that Fan did not vent

without saying a word, went to her r

disturbed. After you have had your dinner go down to the drawing-room and sit there by the fire with you

e, and then taking her book she went to the drawing-room on the ground-floor. After she had been th

me about Miss Starbrow," he sai

lying down, suffering from a headac

an sit here and have a little conversation

draw it, his grasp became firmer. His hand was very soft, as is usual with men who play ca

sir, let me g

ery poor-have you not?-where they have different customs. Never mind, Fan, you will soon learn. Now look up, Fan, and let me see those wonderful eyes of you

lease, sir, wil

er laugh. But his smile and the look in his eyes only frightened her. "Look here, Fan, I will teach you something else. Don't

dening and trying a

ou know that if you make a noise or fuss you'll disturb your mistress an

to get free; he held her firmly and closely, and had just put his lips to her face when the door swung open, and Miss

sed from his grip, her face crimson with sha

is the meaning of th

. Your little girl doesn't mind being kis

his is the way you behave the moment my back is turned. You corrupt-minded little wretch! Take that!" and with her open

r hands, shrunk back against t

be so hard on the poor monkey-she's a mere

onless looked at him-watched his face with a f

"Go up instantly to the back room, and stay there. I sha

nd her mistress shut the door after

of the trees and the dark green leaves of ivy and shrub, and gladdening the sparrows. By-and-by the shortlived sunshine died away, and the sparrows left. It was strangely quiet in the house; distinctly she heard Miss Starbrow come out of the drawing-room and up the stair

laimed, and tripped joyfully away. Half

will do your head good," she said, advancing with min

uch it!" returned Fan, be

ll be so distressed when it hears that your la'ship is unw

y went, falling outside down to the area, where they

tell Miss Starbrow, and then you'll see! That cup was the thing she valued most in the house. She bou

it was an old kitchen cup, chipped and cracked and without a handle; the valuable curio had as a fact been fished o

hen, after a few minutes' time, beginning again to listen for the next quarter. It was getting very late, and still no one came to her, not even Rosie with her supper, which she had made up her mind not to touch. Then she dropped her head on her hands, and cried quietly to herself. She had so many thoughts, and each one seemed sadder than the last. For the great tumult in her soul was over now, and she could think about it all, and of all the individuals who had treated her cruelly. She felt very differently towards them. Captain Horton she feared and hated, and wished him dead with all her heart; and Rosie she also hated, but not so intensely, for the maid's enmity had not injured her. Against Mary she only felt a great anger, but no hatred; for Mary had been so kind, so loving, and she could not forget that, and all the sweetness it had given her life. Then she began to compare this new luxurious life in Dawson

k; she heard the servants going round to fasten doors and turn off the gas, and finally they passed her landing on their way to bed. It was getting very cold, and g

, and looking round Fan saw someone seated by her, and although there was only the starlight from the window in the dim room, she knew that it was her mis

st," said Miss Starbrow. "Do you know that

return

e o'clock. Do you intend to keep me here w

I had no place to sleep because

my room after the outrageous scene I witnessed downstairs! You seem to think that

as si

an, if you have nothin

you want

course. That is, if you can. How did it all happen-you must tell me

early; she remembered every word th

ave told me the simple truth

ad if I'm not telling

le to answer a question with a simple yes or no, withou

I say yes and no, and-and why didn

u ought to know that after all my kindness to you-but I dare say that is all forgotten. I declare

strange fire was still burning in her, and she cou

for me," she said. "But of course I was mistaken about that as I have been about everything else. If you had th

d touched the other's hand, and said very softly, for no

poor outcast and orphan, with no friend but me in the world. Forgive me, dear Fan, for treating you

ying; "you didn't hurt me very much. I

I can trust you. And now let us go down and have some supper together before going to bed. I know you've had nothing since lunch, and I cou

find on coming home from the play, was laid out for them. For the first time Fan sat at table with her mi