Still--calling one's self a lady doesn't--er--" "I wouldn't go on if I were you." Howard Tracy turned his head to see who it might be that had introduced this remark.

It was a short man about forty years old, with sandy hair, no beard, and a pleasant face badly freckled but alive and intelligent, and he wore slop-shop clothing which was neat but showed wear.

He had come from the front room beyond the hall, where he had left his hat, and he had a chipped and cracked white wash-bowl in his hand.

The girl came and took the bowl.
"I'll get it for you.

You go right ahead and give it to him, Mr.
Barrow.