would shortly leave Aldershot by S.S. Arabia with a reinforcing
draft of the Rifle Brigade.

Mavis tore up her letter, to write another, which she addressed to
the steamer which was to carry him the greater part of his long
journey. She did not give her address; she told him how she believed
it would be for his advantage not to encumber his noble career with
concern for her. She had added that, if it were destined for them to
meet, nothing would give her greater pleasure than to see him again.
She ended by wishing him God-speed, a safe return, a successful and
happy life. As the days passed, with all the indignities and
anxieties attending the quest for employment, the girl's thoughts
more and more inclined to Melkbridge. She longed to breathe its air,
tread its familiar ways, steep herself in the scarcely awakened
spirit of the place. She constantly debated in her mind whether or
not she should write to Mr. Devitt to ask for employment. She told
herself how, in doing what she had resolved upon doing only in the
last extremity, she was giving no more hurt to her pride than it
received, several times daily, in her hopeless search for work. A
startling occurrence had put the fear of London into her heart and
decided her to write to Melkbridge. She had been walking down
Victoria Street, raging with anger at the insult that a rich
photographer had offered her, to whom, in reply to an advertisement,
she had applied for work, when her attention was attracted by a knot
of people gathered about a hospital nurse, a girl, and a policeman.

The nurse, a harsh, forbidding-looking woman, was endeavouring to
coax the girl into a waiting cab. The girl was excitedly appealing
for release to the policeman, to the knot of spectators, to passers-
by. When anyone displayed a sign of active interest in the matter,