Mr.
Hilliard--Miss Ringrose." Hilliard stood up.

Miss Ringrose, after attempting a bow of formal dignity, jerked out her hand, gave a shy little laugh, and said with amusing abruptness-- "Do you really come from Dudley ?" "I do really, Miss Ringrose.

Why does it sound strange to you ?" "Oh, I don't mean that it sounds strange." She spoke in a high but not unmusical note, very quickly, and with timid glances to either side of her collocutor.

"But Eve--Miss Madeley--gave me the idea that Dudley people must be great, rough, sooty men.

Don't laugh at me, please.