had originally been endowed. At the same time, she noticed with a sigh that sorrow had sadly chastened the joyous light-heartedness which formerly found constant expression in her eyes. Mavis had been at Mrs Gussle's about three weeks when she made the acquaintance of one of the "theatrical" young women upstairs. They had often met in the passage, when the girl had smiled sympathetically at Mavis. One afternoon, when the latter was feeling unusually depressed, a knock was heard at her door. She cried "Come in," when the girl opened the door a few inches to say: "May I?" "I didn't know it was you," remarked Mavis, distressed at her poverty being discovered. "I came to ask if I could do anything for you," said the girl. "That's very nice of you. Do come in." The girl came in and stayed till it was time for her to commence the elaborate dressing demanded by her occupation. Mavis made her some tea, and the girl (who was called "Lil") prevailed upon her hostess to accept cigarettes. If the girl had been typical of her class, Mavis would have had nothing to do with her; but although Lil made a brave show of cynicism and gay worldliness, Mavis's keen wits perceived that these were assumed in order to conceal the girl's secret resentment against her habit of life. Mavis, also, saw that the girl's natural kindliness of heart and refined instincts entitled her to a better fate than the one which now gripped her. Lil was particularly interested in Mavis's baby. She asked continually about him; she sought him with her eyes when talking to Mavis, conduct that inclined the latter in her favour. When Lil was going she asked: "May I come again?" "Why not?" asked Mavis. "I didn't know I--I--So long," cried Lil, as she glanced in the direction of the baby. On the occasion of her next visit, which took place two afternoons later, Lil asked: "May I nurse your baby?" to add, as Mavis hesitated, "I promise I won't kiss him." Mavis consented, greatly to Lil's delight, who played with the baby for the rest of the afternoon. "You're fond of children?" commented Mavis. The girl nodded, the while she bit her lip. "I can see you've had baby brothers or sisters," remarked Mavis. "How do you know?" "By the way you hold him." "What do you think of Gertie?" asked Lil quickly. "Who's Gertie?" "Mr Gussle. Upstairs we always call him Gertie." "I can't make him out," said Mavis, at which she learned from Lil that Mr Gussle loathed his present means of earning a livelihood; also, that he hungered for respectability, and that, to satisfy his longing, he frequented, in his spare time, a tin tabernacle of evangelical leanings. Mavis also learned that the girls upstairs, knowing of Mr Gussle's proclivities, tempted him with cigarettes, spirits, and stimulating fleshly allurements.