There came a mischievous smile over her face.

Of one of those inmates, the rather priggish Jack Tosswill, she had made a real conquest.

Under some flimsy excuse he had come every day, always staying for a considerable time.

This very morning he had not gone till she had told him frankly that she only had lunch enough for one! The door opened slowly, and her smile died away, giving place to a touching, pathetic expression.

And then, instead of the tall, dark man she expected to see walk in, there advanced towards her a small, freckled-faced, fair-haired little boy--Timmy Tosswill, the child whom she was already beginning to regard with something akin to real distaste.
But Enid Crofton was never unpleasant in manner to anybody, and she even forced herself to smile, as she exclaimed:--"I was not expecting a visitor so late, but I'm very pleased to see you all the same, Master Timmy! How wonderful that you should have been able to reach my knocker.
It's placed so very high up on the door--I think I must get it altered." "I didn't knock," said Timmy shortly, "it was my godfather who knocked, Mrs.Crofton." And when Radmore followed his godson into the room he was surprised, even a little touched, at the warmth of Mrs.Crofton's greeting.
She put out both her hands, "I _am_ glad to see you"-- and then she added, characteristically, for truth was not in her, "I was afraid you wouldn't have time to look me up for ever so long!" But though Radmore was pleased by her evident joy in seeing him, he looked at her with a curiously critical eye.