"Allow me!" exclaimed Lionel, advancing as if to assist the astonished girl to descend; but the next instant she had bounded down, to stand with brightened eye at bay in one corner of the shop, her gaze being now directed at Harry, the recognition being mutual, though the latter was so completely taken aback that no word passed his lips. The next moment Harry had taken all in at a glance--the shop, the trade, Patty evidently quite at home there. His heart beat fast; and in spite of himself, as he thought of his companion, he felt, "What shall I do if she claims acquaintanceship?" He felt ashamed of himself for harbouring the thought; but Patty made no sign, and the short silence was broken by Lionel. "Prudish; eh?" he said, coolly, and he took a step forward. "Recollect yourself," whispered Harry, sternly, and he laid his hand heavily upon the young man's shoulder. "Oh! all right," was the rejoinder, and Lionel laughed, while Harry, still struggling with his feelings, wondered what was to come next. He called himself coward and cur one moment, and the next he rejoiced that Patty totally ignored their former meeting; while, immediately after, strange thoughts assailed him, and he felt a bitter sting as he realised the fact that the bright little flower who had proved so attractive to him at Norwood, should have its habitation amidst such squalor and surroundings of evil. He was a coward, and he knew it, as he mentally exclaimed, "I can't know her here before him!" These thoughts passed like a flash; but Harry was not alone, for swift fancies passed through Patty Pellet's mind, each one leaving a bitter sting, as she felt that what the old people had said was right--there was too much difference between their stations, and that Harry Clayton was ashamed to know her before his friends. "And I am ashamed to know him as well," she concluded, defiantly, as Harry in a suppressed voice, exclaimed, "I did not expect--" Then he stopped and recovered himself, trying hard to arrange his ideas, his mind wandering from the Norwood drawing-room to Duplex Street, and from there to the strange place they were in. "Had Lionel noticed the half recognition?" he asked himself, as fresh sordid ideas sprung up. "If he had, how could the present post be retained with comfort to himself? and he could not afford very well to throw it up. He would be lowered in the young fellow's eyes directly-- it was terribly unfortunate." Love was getting, for the moment, his wings terribly bruised in the encounter. Then he stepped forward himself, and said, calmly, as if addressing a stranger--"I think this is Mr D. Wragg's place of business, is it not?"