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but it didn't matterwas the proof in the admirable face； in the
sightless preoccupation of its possessor； that the latter hadn't a
notion of her。 Her folly had gone to the point of half believing
that the other party to the affair must sometimes mention in Eaton
Square the extraordinary little person at the place from which he
so often wired。 Yet the perception of her visitor's blankness
actually helped this extraordinary little person； the next instant；
to take refuge in a reflexion that could be as proud as it liked。
〃How little she knows； how little she knows！〃 the girl cried to
herself； for what did that show after all but that Captain
Everard's telegraphic confidant was Captain Everard's charming
secret？ Our young friend's perusal of her ladyship's telegram was
literally prolonged by a momentary daze： what swam between her and
the words； making her see them as through rippled shallow sunshot
water； was the great； the perpetual flood of 〃How much I knowhow
much I know！〃 This produced a delay in her catching that； on the
face； these words didn't give her what she wanted； though she was
prompt enough with her remembrance that her grasp was； half the
time； just of what was NOT on the face。 〃Miss Dolman； Parade
Lodge； Parade Terrace； Dover。 Let him instantly know right one；
Hotel de France； Ostend。 Make it seven nine four nine six one。
Wire me alternative Burfield's。〃
The girl slowly counted。 Then he was at Ostend。 This hooked on
with so sharp a click that； not to feel she was as quickly letting
it all slip from her； she had absolutely to hold it a minute longer
and to do something to that end。 Thus it was that she did on this
occasion what she never didthrew off a 〃Reply paid？〃 that sounded
officious； but that she partly made up for by deliberately affixing
the stamps and by waiting till she had done so to give change。 She
had； for so much coolness； the strength that she considered she
knew all about Miss Dolman。
〃Yespaid。〃 She saw all sorts of things in this reply； even to a
small suppressed start of surprise at so correct an assumption；
even to an attempt the next minute at a fresh air of detachment。
〃How much； with the answer？〃 The calculation was not abstruse； but
our intense observer required a moment more to make it； and this
gave her ladyship time for a second thought。 〃Oh just wait！〃 The
white begemmed hand bared to write rose in sudden nervousness to
the side of the wonderful face which； with eyes of anxiety for the
paper on the counter； she brought closer to the bars of the cage。
〃I think I must alter a word！〃 On this she recovered her telegram
and looked over it again； but she had a new； an obvious trouble；
and studied it without deciding and with much of the effect of
making our young woman watch her。
This personage； meanwhile； at the sight of her expression； had
decided on the spot。 If she had always been sure they were in
danger her ladyship's expression was the best possible sign of it。
There was a word wrong； but she had lost the right one； and much
clearly depended on her finding it again。 The girl； therefore；
sufficiently estimating the affluence of customers and the
distraction of Mr。 Buckton and the counter…clerk； took the jump and
gave it。 〃Isn't it Cooper's？〃
It was as if she had bodily leapedcleared the top of the cage and
alighted on her interlocutress。 〃Cooper's？〃the stare was
heightened by a blush。 Yes； she had made Juno blush。
This was all the greater reason for going on。 〃I mean instead of
Burfield's。〃
Our young friend fairly pitied her； she had made her in an instant
so helpless； and yet not a bit haughty nor outraged。 She was only
mystified and scared。 〃Oh； you know？〃
〃Yes； I know！〃 Our young friend smiled； meeting the other's eyes；
and； having made Juno blush； proceeded to patronise her。 〃I'LL do
it〃she put out a competent hand。 Her ladyship only submitted；
confused and bewildered； all presence of mind quite gone； and the
next moment the telegram was in the cage again and its author out
of the shop。 Then quickly； boldly； under all the eyes that might
have witnessed her tampering； the extraordinary little person at
Cocker's made the proper change。 People were really too giddy； and
if they WERE； in a certain case； to be caught； it shouldn't be the
fault of her own grand memory。 Hadn't it been settled weeks
before？for Miss Dolman it was always to be 〃Cooper's。〃
CHAPTER XIV
But the summer 〃holidays〃 brought a marked difference； they were
holidays for almost every one but the animals in the cage。 The
August days were flat and dry； and； with so little to feed it； she
was conscious of the ebb of her interest in the secrets of the
refined。 She was in a position to follow the refined to the extent
of knowingthey had made so many of their arrangements with her
aidexactly where they were； yet she felt quite as if the panorama
had ceased unrolling and the band stopped playing。 A stray member
of the latter occasionally turned up； but the communications that
passed before her bore now largely on rooms at hotels； prices of
furnished houses； hours of trains； dates of sailings and
arrangements for being 〃met〃； she found them for the most part
prosaic and coarse。 The only thing was that they brought into her
stuffy corner as straight a whiff of Alpine meadows and Scotch
moors as she might hope ever to inhale； there were moreover in
especial fat hot dull ladies who had out with her； to exasperation；
the terms for seaside lodgings； which struck her as huge； and the
matter of the number of beds required； which was not less
portentous： this in reference to places of which the names
Eastbourne； Folkestone； Cromer； Scarborough； Whitbytormented her
with something of the sound of the plash of water that haunts the
traveller in the desert。 She had not been out of London for a
dozen years； and the only thing to give a taste to the present dead
weeks was the spice of a chronic resentment。 The sparse customers；
the people she did see； were the people who were 〃just off〃off on
the decks of fluttered yachts； off to the uttermost point of rocky
headlands where the very breeze was then playing for the want of
which she said to herself that she sickened。
There was accordingly a sense in which； at such a period； the great
differences of the human condition could press upon her more than
ever； a circumstance drawing fresh force in truth from the very
fact of the chance that at last； for a change； did squarely meet
herthe chance to be 〃off；〃 for a bit； almost as far as anybody。
They took their turns in the cage as they took them both in the
shop and at Chalk Farm； she had known these two months that time
was to be allowed in Septemberno less than eleven daysfor her
personal private holiday。 Much of her recent intercourse with Mr。
Mudge had consisted of the hopes and fears； expressed mainly by
himself； involved in the