A certain surprise marked her smile of recognition; it meant, no doubt, that, never before having seen Mr.Jollyman save bareheaded and aproned, she was struck with the change in his aspect when thus equipped for going abroad.
Immediately Mr.Jollyman doffed his hat and stepped behind the counter.
"Please don't let me keep you," said Bertha, with a glance towards Allchin, who was making parcels at the back of the shop.

"I only want some--some matches, and one or two trifling things." Never had she seemed so embarrassed in making a purchase.

Her eyes fell, and she half turned away.

Mr.Jollyman appeared to hesitate, he also glancing towards Allchin; but the young lady quickly recovered herself, and, taking up a packet of something exhibited on the counter, asked its price.

The awkwardness was at an end; Bertha made her purchases, paid for them, and then left the shop as usual.
It was by the last post on the evening after this day that Warburton received a letter of which the exterior puzzled him.