then had ten minutes on her hands before the three o'clock omnibus left for St. Gilles.
Mr. de Souchy stood in his shirt-sleeves on the threshold of his shop. Agnes stopped to speak to him, and inquire after the girls. They were all away from home now, but doing well. Their mother received cheerful letters every week. Agnes charged the old man with kind messages for them, and turned to go. He shook her hand heartily. "Well, good-bye, my dear," he said, in his comfortable, resonant voice, "my love to your grand'ma, and ask her when she's going to spend another day with us, eh?"
Coming down the street were a lady and two gentlemen. The men were in tennis flannels, carried rackets and balls. The girl wore a lilac and white frock, the chic of which spoke of St. Hé1iers at least, if not of Paris.
Agnes recognised the youngest Miss d'Aldernois, her brother the Captain, just back from India, and between the two Jack Owen. He was looking straight towards her.
The delighted blood sprang to her cheek, her eyes sparkled, her mouth smiled. She took a step forward, she half extended her hand . . . and he looked her full in the face without a sign of recognition, and passed on.
Miss d'Aldernois' silk-lined skirt brushed with a light frou-frou against hers, as, with her pretty head held high, she chattered volubly with her pretty lisp. The Captain walked in the roadway.
Agnes stood and watched the three figures with their short, slanting shadows retire further and further down the sunny street.
"Come in and take something," she heard De Souchy saying at her elbow, "a little drop of raspberry vinegar now, it will doyou
