Mr. Pryme was no longer by the window when it did so, so that he was totally unprepared for the visitor, whose trembling and twice-repeated tap at his door he answered somewhat impatiently-- "Come in, and be d----d to you, and don't stand rapping at that door all day." The people, as a rule, who solicited admittance to his chambers were either the boy from the legal light below, who came to ask whether the papers were ready that had been sent up this morning, or else they were smiling and sleek-faced tradesmen who washed their hands insinuatingly whilst they requested that Mr. Pryme would be kind enough to settle that little outstanding account. Either of these visitors were equally unwelcome, which must be some excuse for the roughness of Mr. Pryme's language. The door was softly pushed ajar. "Now, then--come in, can't you; who the deuce are you--_Beatrice_!" Enter Miss Miller, smiling. "Oh, fie, Herbert! what naughty words, sir." "Beatrice, is it possible that it is you! Where is your mother? Are you alone?" looking nervously round at the door, whilst he caught her outstretched hand. "Yes, I am quite alone; don't be very shocked. I know I am a horrid, bold girl to come all by myself to a man's chambers; it's dreadful, isn't it! Oh, what would people say of it if they knew--why, even _you_ look horrified! But oh, Herbert, I did want to see you so. I was determined to get at you somehow--and now I am here for a whole hour; I have managed it beautifully--no one will ever find out where I have been. Mamma thinks I am driving with Lady Kynaston!" And then she sat down and took off her veil, and told him all about it. She had got at her lover, and she felt perfectly happy and secure, sitting there with his arm round her waist and her hand in his. Not so Herbert. He was pleased, of course, to see her, and called her by a thousand fond names, and he admired her courage and her spirit for breaking through the conventional trammels of her life in order to come to him; but he was horribly nervous all the same. Supposing that boy were to come in from below, or the smiling tradesman, or, still worse, if the great Q.C. were to catch a glimpse of her as she went out, and recognize her from having met her in society, where would Miss Miller's reputation be then? "It is very imprudent of you--most rash and foolish," he kept on repeating; but he was glad to see her all the same, and kissed her between every other word. "Now, don't waste any more time spooning," says Beatrice, with decision, drawing herself a little farther from him on the hard leather sofa. "An hour soon goes, and I have plenty to say to you. Herbert," with great solemnity, "_I mean to elope with you!_" Herbert gives an irrepressible start. "_Now!_ this minute?" he exclaims, in some dismay, and reflects swiftly that, just now he possesses exactly three pounds seven and sixpence in ready money.