Infuriated, Mrs. Eyton-Eyton turned upon Mary. "Oh, you little fool!"

The rebuke that should have been taken with downcast eyes, murmured
apologies, was otherwise received.

"Mrs. Eyton! How dare you call me a fool!"

Pause of blank amazement; sago-messed table-napkin in the scented
hand; sago creeping down the silken skirt. That a nursery governess--
not even a servant--should so presume!

"Miss Humfray! You forget yourself!"

"No!-No! It is you who forget yourself. How dare you speak to me like
that!"

Another moment of utter bewilderment; small Eyton-Eytons gazing round-
eyed; the girl white, heaving; the woman dully red. Then "Pack your
boxes, Miss!"



XI.

She was upon the platform at Victoria Station, a porter asking
commands for her box, before she realised what she had done. A few
pounds in her purse, and infinitely worse off now than a week before.
Then she had no "character"; now employment was to be sought with Mrs.
Eyton-Eyton as her "last place." She would not go back to Missus and