“Oh, please come in,” she said in a very demure voice, from which it was impossible to tell whether she was pleased or annoyed, grateful or the reverse, for his good offices. Bram entered, and proceeded to place his enormous parcel on the deal table, and to cut the string. He was passing through the refining process very rapidly; and, already, in the clothes which he had chosen under Chris Cornthwaite’s eye, he looked too dignified a person to engage in the duties of a light porter. Claire, more demure than ever, spoke as if she was much shocked. “Oh, have you carried that heavy parcel? Oh, I’m so sorry. It is very, very kind of you, but----” She stopped, stammering a little. Joan, who was standing with her hands on her hips, admiring the scene, laughed scornfully. “Eh, but it’s a grand thing to be yoong! Ah can’t get no smart yoong gen’lemen to carry my parcels for me, not if they was to see me breakin’ ma back.” “Why, you’ve got a husband to carry them for you,” said Claire quickly, and not very happily; for Joan laughed again. “Ay, Miss Claire, but they doan’t do it after they’re married; so do you make t’ moast o’ your time.” And Joan, with an easy nod which was meant to include both the young people, went through into the hall with leisurely steps. As she had left behind her a slight feeling of awkward reserve, Claire felt bound to begin with an apology for her. “She’s rather rough, but, oh, so good,” said she. “Then if she’s good to you, I can forgive all her roughness,” said Bram. And the next minute he wished he had not said it. There was a momentary pause, during which Bram busied himself with the strings of his parcels. With a rapid eye, Miss Biron ran over the various things which the outer wrapper had contained. Then, with a bright flush in her face, she took her purse from her pocket. “How much do I owe you?” she asked quickly. “Three boxes of candles, eighteenpence. Two boxes of sardines, two and sixpence. Box of figs, half-a-crown----” Bram interrupted her hotly. “One and ninepence, the figs,” cried he, “and the sardines were only ninepence a tin.” “Then they are not the best.” “Yes, they are.” This colloquy, short and simple as it was, had left the combatants, for such they seemed, panting with excitement. Miss Biron looked at the young man narrowly and proceeded in a tone of much haughtiness---- “I must beg you to tell me really what they cost, whatever my father said. He knows nothing about the price of things, but”--and the young lady gave him a look which was meant to impress him with her vast experience in these matters--“I do.” Bram, afraid of offending her still further, and conscious of the delicate ground upon which he stood, began submissively to add up the various items, deducting a few pence where he dared, until the total of nineteen shillings and fourpence was reached. Miss Biron opened her purse rather nervously, and took out a small handful of silver, a very small handful, alas!