There was no reason why Hilda should remain,--burning gas to no purpose.

She had telegraphed, by favour of a Karkeek office-boy, to Miss Gailey, saying that she would come by the first train on the morrow--Saturday, and she had therefore much to do at home.

Nevertheless, she sat idle in the office, unable to leave.

Her whole life was in that office, and it was just when she was most weary of the environment that she would vacillate longest before quitting it.

She was unhappy and apprehensive, much less about her mother than about the attitude of her conscience towards the morals of this new world of hers.