He finished rather lamely, but the eyes into which he looked were tender, and he laughed more easily. "You see, I've had a bit of a struggle," he said. "Before a man does anything in this sort of profession, he's got to be prepared to live on dry bread almost----" "But not now, Jimmy," she broke in hurriedly. "All that is done with." "Practically," said Jimmy, jingling some coppers in his pockets, and swallowing with some difficulty. "Still, it's a good thing to look back upon; to remember the days when you didn't have all you wanted--and--and so forth." "You must have been very brave, Jimmy," she said in wonderment. "I had to be," he retorted. At that moment a curious bumping sound was audible from the landing; then the door was thrust open without ceremony. In the doorway was framed, as a picture of Bohemia for the eyes of Moira, the figure of the landlady--a supercilious landlady, and no respecter of persons. She struck an attitude as she came into the room, and looked about her contemptuously; had a particular eye for Moira. "Ho!" she exclaimed, with a sniff. "So we entertains, do we? Not content with robbin' honest people of what's their doo, an' snatchin' the very bread from the mouths of the widow an' such like, we brings our young ladies, if you please, an' sits 'em down by our fires, an' what not. An' it's cheques we're goin' to 'ave the very next time the postman walks in; an' I wouldn't be a bit surprised if we don't 'ave champagne wine for our lunches. Oh, it's a nice world for them as is brazen enough to 'old their 'eads 'igh, an' mock the pore an' the 'elpless!" Jimmy, with a burning face, crossed the room to her, and endeavoured to control her. "My good woman--I've already told you that you shall have your money to-day; I'm a little pressed, but it isn't my fault. Don't make a scene, I implore you, before this lady." All this earnestly, and with backward glances towards the girl. "Ho, yes--I dare say!" exclaimed the woman. "Nobody mustn't be put out a bit while this 'ere robbery goes on--nor must we breathe a word that might be over'eard by anyone as doubtless calls theirselves most superior. 'Owever, young man"--she raised her voice for the benefit of Moira--"it's come to this 'ere with me; that money I will 'ave--an' this very day. I might've known, by the very look of yer, w'en you first come 'ere, that I was doin' a silly thing to let you 'ave the place at all--much less feed yer!" She went out, slamming the door; Jimmy turned towards Moira. Something to his surprise, he saw that though the ready tears were in her eyes, she was smiling at him--smiling in something of the fashion of the old Moira, who had been sorry for him when he had got into a scrape. He went across to her, and stood looking down at her. "She's a beast!" he said boyishly. "And so you're really poor, Jimmy?" she whispered eagerly. "Really--really hard up! That's splendid!" "Splendid?" He looked down at her in perplexity.