was near a window looking out upon the thoroughfare, had time to stand
gazing at the passers-by. They did not seem to interest him particularly,
or else they puzzled him. His young, handsome face wore a thoughtful
look, almost a troubled expression about the eyes, which seemed to be
gazing beyond the passers-by. Just across the aisle from him, a lady,
seated in one of the easy chairs set for the accommodation of shoppers,
waited and watched him,--a young and pretty woman, tastefully, even
elegantly dressed, yet her costume was quite in keeping with the stormy
day. The young man's face seemed to have special interest for her, though
he apparently was unaware of her existence. A close observer would have
discovered that she was watching him with deeply interested eyes.
Whatever served to hold the thoughts of the young man apparently grew
in perplexity, for the troubled look continually deepened. At last,
forgetting the possible listener, he addressed the dripping clouds,
perhaps,--at least, he was looking at them:--

"I don't know how to do it; but something ought to be done. It is worse
than folly to expect good from the way that things are now managed.
Ester would have known just what, and how; and how interested she would
have been! I try to do her work, and to 'redeem the time;' but the
simple truth is, I don't know how, and nobody else seems to."

These sentences were not given all at once, but murmured from time to
time at his unsympathetic audience outside.

Patter, patter, patter, drip, drip, drip! steady, uncompromising
business. It was all the answer the clouds vouchsafed him.

With the listener inside it was different. The interested look changed
to an eager one. She left her seat and moved toward the absorbed young