“What a gloomy person you are!” she murmured. He could not doubt it. In the middle of the little town stood the shop of a Jew dealer in old clothes. Hadn’t they settled that already? “I want you as a friend,” he persisted, almost as if he disputed something. His pipe hung dead in his teeth, but the smoke was dense about him. ’ ‘Fiddle,’ scoffed Miss Froxfield. Sheppard!" echoed Jack, surprised out of his caution. ’ ‘Yes, Hilary, do stop hustling the girl,’ put in Miss Froxfield, much to Melusine’s relief and approval. For so far she had kept it uncashed. He looked across at Annabel, and he groaned. He had absorbed her in a single glance, and was now defining her as he worked. She was glad to join in the stream of hurrying homeward workers that was now welling out of a thousand places of employment, and to imitate their driven, preoccupied haste.