everyday dulness, made more impression than all the steady monotonous services of Salvina. For the rest, Salvina conscientiously repaid these gifts in kind on Kitty's birthdays and other high days. X When Salvina was twenty-three years old a change came. Lazarus ceased to demand assistance: he was cheery and self-confident, and inclined to chaff Salvina on her prim ways. He removed to a larger house and her easy-chair disappeared before a more elegant. And the apparent brightness of her brother's prospects brightened Salvina's. Her savings increased, and, under the continuous profit of his self-support, she was soon able to meditate changes on her own account. Either she would give up her night-teaching--which had been more and more undermining her system--or she would procure her mother and Kitty a delightful surprise by migrating back to Hackney. Her mind hesitated between the joyous alternatives, lingering voluptuously now on one, now on the other, but somehow aware that it would ultimately choose the latter, for Kitty on her rare visits never failed to grumble at the lowness of the neighbourhood and the expense of cabs, and Mrs. Brill still yearned to see horses pawing outside her door-step. But an unexpected visit from Kitty, not six weeks after her last, and equally unexpected in place--for it was at Salvina's school--decided the matter suddenly. It was about half-past twelve, and Salvina, long since a full "assistant teacher," was seated at her desk, correcting the German exercises of a private pupil. Sparsely dotted about the symmetric benches were a few demure criminals undergoing the punishment of being kept in, and the air was still heavy with the breaths and odours of the blissful departed. A severe museum-case, with neatly ticketed specimens, backed Salvina's chair, and around the spacious room hung coloured diagrams of animals and plants. Kitty seemed a specimen from another world as her coquettish Leghorn hat flowering with poppies burst upon the scholastic scene. "Oh, dear, I thought you'd be alone," she said pettishly. "Is it anything important? The children don't matter," said Salvina. "You can tell me in German. I do hope nothing is the matter." "No, nothing so alarming as that," Kitty replied in German. "But I thought I'd find you alone and have a chat." "I had to stay here with the children. They must be punished." "Seems more like punishing yourself. But have you lunched, then?" "No." Salvina flushed slightly. "No? What's up? A Jewish fast! Ninth day of Ab, fall of Temple, and funny things like that. One always seems to stumble upon them in the East End." "How you do rattle on, Kitty!" and Salvina smiled. "No, I shall lunch as soon as these children are released." "But why wait for that?" Salvina's blush deepened. "Well, one doesn't want to eat a good dinner before hungry girls." "A good dinner! Why, what in heaven's name do you get? Truffles and plovers' eggs?"