The Making of a Prig

y and expect to find employment waiting for them; she answered advertisements, she visited agents, she walked over the length and

gher Local Examination with honours, and did not think very much of it. And she had to learn that an apologetic manner is not the best one to assume towards strangers, and that omnibus conductors do not mean to be patronising when they say "missy," and that a policeman is always open to the

ed, too attractive. When this last objection was made to her by the elderly principal of a girl's school,

d inexperienced would not affect my p

me one about me whom I can trust, and leave safely with the children. Besides,

wait until I am old and unsympathetic, and can no longer feel in touch with

rincipal rema

by such as you," she said. "I should

ht have got a secretaryship, if I had known shorthand. I never knew I should have to earn my ow

ess indifferently. "Pardon me, but I have heard your tale so often befor

" answered Katha

lties, kept her silent and brought a troubled look into her face. The elderly principal was not unkindly, when ci

o justify her weakness in her own mind, "what are your friends t

ther to laugh or to cry at the reflection of herself in the glass. "Whatever would daddy say?" she thought, and put it hastily back into the box; and if the other occupants of her room had happened to come in just then, they would certainly have modified their opinion o

she would prefer not to come out with him because it unsettled her. And Ted, in his humble-minded way, thought she had made new friends in the house and did not care to be bothered with him; and Katharine, who read him like a book, knew that he thought so, and made fresh efforts to get on so that she could spend all her leisure time with him. She wrote home in the same spirit, and said that she was sure of

re economical for other people, and more extravagant for himself? I wonder if that

irst; but the fact remained that, if she went on at her present rate of expenditure, she would have to return home in a for

d I shall have been in London just nine weeks. And, after all, the food is so nast

She had never realised before what a very healthy appetite she possessed; and she remembered with some regret how she had been too dainty, at first, to touch the food at all, and had lived for days al

ing to happen. To be idle in a place like Queen's Crescent was not an enviable position. And by this time she knew her London pretty well, and it fascinated her, and spoke to her of life, and work, and the future; and a walk throu

to stay with us, and they worried daddy no end, and said I wanted finishing, and ought to go to

her worldly condition would seem to justify. The agency turned out to be on the top floor of some

ncies much myself, I don't; queerish kind of impostory plac

nd said that Mr. Parker was at liberty, if she would kindly step in. She fancied that he also stared critically at her, and she began to fear that something was wrong with her personal appearance. This naturally did not add to her self-possession; and when she found herself in a small inner room that smelt of stale tobacco and whiskey, she began to wish she had not come at all. A fair-haired man, with

percilious smile, and went at once to the

rebellious; and Mr. Parker vanished precipitately into the other room. When he returne

aid, "and don't see anything good enough for

atharine doubtfully. She wanted to get away, and

ied being a secretary? Ah, I am sure you have! You are not the

was leaning across the table and playing with the pens i

about you, wasn't I? Don't you thi

y and took her elbow off the table. He found the straight look of her

an official air with alacrity, "would

and his supercilious manner,

ely. But they are

ike ours we often hear of something good. Let me see, would

out to South Africa; whereupon Mr. Parke

ark; and in an unguarded moment she began to laugh at the absurdity of his suggestions. Mr. Parker at on

hat you want is a snug little berth with some literary boss, who won't give you to

r first impulse was to rush out of his sight, at any cost; but she restrained hers

l," she said very slowly, trying to conceal the tremble in her voic

u haven't even heard what I was going to say. I've been looking out for a secretary myself, for some time, 'pon my oath I have; but

temptuously round the room, that was so entirely devoid of the ordinary apparatus of busi

he office boy, "but I feel that the work would be very much too hard for me.

completely deserted her, and she found she was trembling

of yourself up with that kidney," observed th

sked Katharine. She was thoroughly unnerved, and eve

, who was merely curious and not sympathetic at all; a

twopence for helping her to realise the fact. "And I shouldn't have c

out of it. She looked up by chance and caught his eye,

her, with just the necessary amount of interest in his look, and the necessary amount of pleasure in his smile. Paul was a man who prided himself on n

ightful. Are you

At l

yes, cold, isn't it? Thanks, I won't go up now-" this to the porter, who was still waiting by the lift. "

ven weeks, and Katharine yielded at once to the masterful tone, which ha

she had still been a child. Somehow she did not feel, as with Ted, that she could not tell him about her failures: it seemed as though this man must know all there was to know about her, whether it was pleasant for him

" she asked him, anxiously, as he did not

ine how they l

d lady principal said. What could possi

again, with his p

f course! At le

did not know whether to be pleased or annoyed that he should

happen to girls of your nature. But of course I ma

rence about his own opinions. But she had learnt something already that day, and she

can't see how I am differe

ld not be expected to see. But it is just that litt

Mr. Parker again, a

"I think it is more likely to

ly. She knew that he had spoken without reflection, and she laughed agai

the orchard, how we watched Aunt Esther out of the front d

d cook wouldn't let you have any mor

how you sho

o those delightful things again. W

a moment, because they knew one another so well. "All the same," ob

nd supposed he should see her again soon. And Katharine, who was occupied in hoping that he did not notice the squalor of the area, and would not come

stairs, and went into her dark and dingy cubicle. It had never seemed so dark or so dingy before; and she add

d had she known what Paul re

fascinating to a man. She'll do, now she has got away from her depressing relations; and the touch of weirdness in her expression is an improvement. Wonder if Heaton

down to breakfast, Phyllis Hyam threw he

to procure you a clean plate, too; so don't go away to the other table, as yo

etter. She never wanted to talk at breakfast time, a fact which Phyllis good-

aid to the proffered bacon. "Get me some t

harine returned to her letter without noticing her further. Judging f

Katharine

nature, and you would like to consider it further, come up and see me about it in my chambers. I shall be in at tea-time, any afternoon this wee

sinc

Wil

ery afternoon." Then she paused, and looked smilingly

rplexed. "I thought you wanted i

I am a cross old bear," exclaimed Katharine, with a burst of unusual cordial

Katharine, as she toiled up the massive oak staircase, stopping on every landing to read the names over

" she thought enthusiastically; and then, with the cynicism that always dogged the

y glad to see her, and Katharine flushed with pleasure

n the impulse of the moment Katharine let

she said, but she saw from his manner that she ought not to have said it. Any sentiment that was crudely expressed was a

I thought you might come, one day; but I hardly exp

meet his irritating self

are a great many reasons why I should not have come. But the one that broug

inly did not show it, for his tone was

ho was killed out in Africa, and she started this concern after his death. She knows nothing about education, but a great deal about etiquette, and as this is also the posi

to accept it if Mrs. Downing approved of her. The salary was not large, but she had

about your people, and so on, and a clergyman is

eft. Paul was in one of his unaccountable silent moods, and they were never conducive to conversation. He roused himself a little to show her some of his treas

ward pause that he showed no signs of breaking. T

slightly worried look he always wore in his morose moods.

look invited h

able to provide a chaperon, don't you see? But, o

with a reassuring smile. "Why shou

decided to make it beforehand, and did not mean

avely, "you will see that it would be

see, and she sho

reasons which have made it impossible for me to marry, and there are still more now, which will p

to come and see him to-day. And, like many another woman who has to face as embarrassing a disclosure from a man

down to button them for her, and their eyes met. "Let me come again," she said impulsively. "You know I think propriet

ot the sort. Don't think any more about it. I am old enough to be your father, an

I not the sort? I don't understand; I am tired of

n the firelight, with the glow all over her f

to hear you. There, go away, and make it up with young Morton! Oh, no, I know nothing whateve

Ted is only like my brother; I love him, but it is al

ly serious, and Paul switched on the ele

person you are! I believe you work too hard, don't you? Now, I

ith a hot blush, that she