At the entrance of the River Lane, however, she ceased to stand upon ceremony with herself. She picked up her skirts and went on at a more business-like rate of speed. Some one was coming up against the light, which by this time of the afternoon came chiefly from the west, someone with his shoulders up to his ears, who took off his hat to Polly, and pleased her until she perceived that it was only Law. “You here!” she said: and as she looked at him the moral influence of the sealskin almost vanished. Thus she went in state to visit the scenes in which so much of her previous life had passed. But a new sentiment was in Polly’s eyes. She felt that she had a duty to do--a duty which was superior to benevolence. She pushed open the green swing door with a delicious sense of the difference. The girls were talking fast and loud when she opened the door, discussing some subject or other with all the natural chatter of the workroom. There was a pause when the sound of her heels and the rustle of her silk was heard--a hush ran round the table. How well Polly knew what it meant! “They will think it is a customer,” she said to herself; and never customer swept in more majestically. They were all at work when she entered, as if they did not know what it was to chatter, and Ellen rose respectfully at the first appearance of the lady. “Mother is upstairs, ma’am, but I can take any orders,” she said; and then with a shriek cried out “Polly!” “Polly!” echoed all the girls. Here was a visitor indeed. They got up and made a circle round her, examining her and all she “had on.” “In a sealskin!” ’Liza and Kate cried in a breath, with an admiration which amounted to awe. One of them even put forth her hand to stroke it in her enthusiasm. For an instant Polly allowed this fervour of admiration to have its way. Then she said, languidly-- “Give me a chair, please, and send Mrs. Welting to me. I wish to speak to Mrs. Welting. I am sorry to interrupt your work, young ladies--it is Mrs. Welting I want to see.” “But, Polly!” the girls cried all together. They were too much startled to know what to say. They stood gaping in a circle round her. “I thought you had come to see us like a friend--like what you used to be.” “And weren’t we all just glad to see you again, Polly--and quite the lady!” cried another. They would not take their dismissal at the first word.