figure walk down the street. The two old ladies were really very
fond of her and not a little proud of her appearance.

"She has deportment," remarked Helen, as Mavis disappeared from
their ken.

"Scarcely that--distinction is more the word," corrected Annie.

"I fear for her in the great world," declared Helen with trembling
lips; "they say that good looks are a girl's worst enemy."

"But Mavis has profited by the example of our lives, Helen."

"There is much in that, Annie. Also, she should have derived much
benefit from being, in school hours, and often out of them, in an
atmosphere influenced by the writings of the late Mr Ruskin."

With these consolations, the two old ladies toiled upstairs, and set
about packing for a fortnight's stay they proposed making with an
old friend at Worthing, for which place they proposed starting in
two days' time.

Meanwhile, the subject of their thoughts was walking to Addison Road
Station, happily ignorant of the old ladies' fears concerning the
perils of her path. To look at her, she seemed the least likely girl
in London who was about to take a journey on the chance of obtaining
a much-needed engagement. Her glowing eyes, flushed cheeks, and
light step were eloquent of a joyousness not usually associated with
an all but penniless girl on the look-out for something to do. Her
clothes, also, supported the impression that she was a young woman