Her intention was to go in and inquire for her brother-in-law straightway; but with her usual aptitude for fun, she thought she would amuse herself first. So with a bold step and a merry twinkle in her eye, she pushed open the swing-door, and stepped inside. A young man in a fashionable frock coat came forward to attend to her requirements. Dinah put on her most dignified manner. “I have come,” she said, sinking on to a comfortable settee with an air of importance, “in answer to an advertisement of yours in the _Daily Post_, in which you term yourselves the _benefactors of mankind_.” “Yes, madam?” “You offer to accommodate young couples just about to get married, with furniture on the easy-payment system. I am just about to get married, and I want to pay easily, if you can understand.” “Quite so, madam?” The young man regarded her with gravity. “How many rooms would you require to furnish?” “I can hardly tell you yet. We have not yet decided whether it is to be a little back room in Bloomsbury or a villa in Hampstead. It all depends on circumstances. Lots of things depend on circumstances, don’t they?” she added with a sweet smile. “Quite so, madam.” The young man thought her a somewhat queer customer. “I have not come to order anything to-day,” she continued with dignity. “I’ve only come to inspect. You say in your advertisement ‘_Inspection invited_,’ you know. By-the-by, if we can’t pay up to date, I suppose you come and grab the chairs and tables, don’t you? That is a disadvantage--a decided disadvantage.” The clerk cleared his throat. “Well, madam,” he replied, “we always endeavour to exercise the greatest leniency possible. Of course, before we send any goods to your--ahem--place of abode, we shall have to satisfy ourselves as to your ability to pay. I do not suppose you will object to our making full inquiries?” “Oh, not at all,” said Dinah, complacently. Why should she object? “Unlike some firms, we conduct our business on thoroughly honourable and equitable principles,” the young man went on to assure her. “Then there is our free insurance scheme. If your husband were to die----” “Oh, but he is not going to die,” the girl interposed quickly. “Why, he has only just begun to live!” “Just so, madam; but life at best is uncertain. I was going to say that, were your husband unfortunately to die, the furniture would be yours--as his widow--without any further payment.” “How nice!” Dinah murmured. “You give me the cold shivers down my back. Widow indeed! And I’m not even married yet. Can I see your chief this morning?” The clerk looked dubious. “That is scarcely necessary, madam, at this stage of the proceedings,” he replied. “The head of our firm is a very busy man----” But Dinah had espied a familiar figure looming in the background--a figure with a broad waistcoat and a heavy gold chain. “Mike!” “Dinah! Why, what an unexpected treat this is, little girl!”