Alice was packing certain articles she had purchased in the afternoon, and had just delighted her soul with the inspection of a travelling cloak, also bought to-day.

When the visitor was announced, she threw the garment over her shoulders and appeared in it.
'Does this look nice, do you think ?' she asked, after shaking hands as joyously as her mood dictated.
'About as nice as a perfect thing always does when it's worn by a perfect woman,' Mr.Keene replied, drawing back and inclining his body at what he deemed a graceful angle.
'Oh, come, that's too much!' laughed Alice.
'Not a bit, Miss Mutimer.

I suppose you travel in it tomorrow morning ?' 'How did you know that ?' 'I have heard from your brother to-day.

I thought I might perhaps have the great pleasure of doing you some slight service either to-night or in the morning.

You will allow me to attend you to the station ?' 'I really don't think there's any need to trouble you,' Alice replied.
These respectful phrases always stirred her pleasurably: in listening to them she bore herself with dignity, and endeavoured to make answer in becoming diction.
'Trouble?
What other object have I in life but to serve you?
I'll put it in another way: you won't refuse me the pleasure of being near you for a few minutes ?' 'I'm sure you're very kind.