The Roll-Call

hatless, pushing open the door

, who in the far corner was apparently cleaning or adjusting his press, then came forward with a quiet, shy, urbane welcome. Marguerite herself stood nea

ust

nd proportions fairly tall and fairly thin, she counted in shops among the stock-sizes; but otherwise she was entitled to call herself unusual. She kept her hair about as short as the hair of a boy who has postponed going to the barber's for a month after the proper time, and she incompletely covered the hair with the smallest possible hat. Her

nnon," said Agg firml

make a world, he did not like her and wondered why she existed. He could understand Agg being fond of Marguerite, but he could not unders

erite in a serious, calm tone, turning to him. Like George, sh

ndeed he was startled to find that Marguerite could confide such a matter to Prince-at any rate without consulting himself. While not definitely formulating the claim in his own mind, he had somehow expected of Marguerite that until she met him she woul

een him," Ge

e tell

es

ring, retired to his press, and

id he t

age.... And I gathered ther

ing e

N

ted, fixing her b

ming to live with

lenging gaze

this decision having been made without his knowledge. B

ing her take a parcel home at nights. And then all of a sudden she comes dressed up for tea, and sits down, and Mr. Haim says sh

Agg, you know. It's not a crime," said Mr. Prin

ife, 's been dead barely three years, that's his concern. It's true the lady isn't much more than half his age, and that the whole business would be screamingly funny if it was

tate," said George, wit

cont

Respectability's his god-Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Always has been. He'd sacrifice everything to respectability-except the lovely Lobley. It's not respectable in a respectable family for a girl to leave home o

ut he blenched, and all his presence of mind was needed to preserve a casual, cool demeanour. The worst of the trial was Marguerite's tranquil acceptance of the a

d then, strangely, he began to admire

unced. "Morning. It will be much better. She can l

to your mother-to her memory. That's the duty you owe. I'll come roun

he sound of th

e murmured, and the girls sh

bye, P

bye,

ght, Mr.

slightly ban

" said Marguerite, in a sweet,

gone, but he hasn't. If you don't want to m

e'll be gone too by t

oothingly to stay as long as she liked. She sho