The mate noticed, with a strong sense of his own unworthiness, that the two ladies seemed thoroughly engrossed in each other’s company, and oblivious to all else. A suggestion from Flower that he should close up and take off Miss Wheeler, seemed to him to border upon audacity, but he meekly followed Flower as that bold mariner ranged himself alongside the girls, and taking two steps on the curb and three in the gutter, walked along for some time trying to think of something to say. “There ain’t room for four abreast,” said Flower, who had been scraping against the wall. “We’d better split up into twos.” At the suggestion the ladies drifted apart, and Flower, taking Miss Tyrell’s arm, left the mate behind with Miss Wheeler, nervously wondering whether he ought to do the same. “I hope it won’t rain,” he said, at last. “I hope not,” said Miss Wheeler, glancing up at a sky which was absolutely cloudless. “So bad for ladies’ dresses,” continued the mate. “What is?” enquired Miss Wheeler, who had covered some distance since the last remark. “Rain,” said the mate, quite freshly. “I don’t think we shall have any, though.” Miss Wheeler, whose life had been passed in a neighbourhood in which there was only one explanation for such conduct, concluded that he had been drinking, and, closing her lips tightly, said no more until they reached the theatre. “Oh, they’re going in,” she said, quickly; “we shall get a bad seat.” “Hurry up,” cried Flower, beckoning. “I’ll pay,” whispered the mate. “No, I will,” said Flower. “Well, you pay for one and I’ll pay for one, then.” He pushed his way to the window and bought a couple of pit-stalls; the mate, who had not consulted him, bought upper-circles, and, with a glance at the ladies, pushed open the swing-doors. “Come on,” he said, excitedly; and seeing several people racing up the broad stone stairs, he and Miss Tyrell raced with them. “Round this side,” he cried, hastily, as he gave up the tickets, and, followed by Miss Tyrell, quickly secured a couple of seats at the end of the front row. “Best seats in the house almost,” said Poppy, cheerfully. “Where are the others?” said Fraser, looking round. “Coming on behind, I suppose,” said Poppy glancing over her shoulder. “I’ll change places when they arrive,” said the other, apologetically; “something’s detained them, I should think. I hope they’re not waiting for us.” He stood looking about him uneasily as the seats behind rapidly filled, and closely scanned their occupants, and then, leaving his hat on the seat, walked back in perplexity to the door. “Never mind,” said Miss Tyrell, quietly, as he came back. “I daresay they’ll find us.”