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their cars, and consequently would pass her place of business. And though the rent was bigger than she had anticipated, Ann was not forced to sign a lease, but took it for six months, with the option of a further tenancy. One of the greatest advantages in her eyes was the fact that the rooms were in a newly-built block, so that cream-colored paint work and distempered walls were fresh and clean. There was a basin with running water in the back room, and a gas ring. Electric light was fitted throughout.

She was alone inspecting her new domain, the morning things were settled, when there was a knock at the shop door. She had already taken the precaution of tacking sheets of brown paper over the lower part of the window facing the street, so that whatever work she had to do might be done in private. Opening the door she found Holmes in the narrow hall outside.

“I tracked you to the agent’s, and on here,” he said, as he entered.

She closed the door behind him, and they stood together in the bare little room.

“I’m off back to Tirau this afternoon,” he said.

“What do they say at the bank?”

She had seen him for a few minutes the night before. To neither of them did it appear strange that she should ask the question so frankly. The last three days had brought them strangely near to one another, and Ann knew that it was a relief to him to be able to confide in her.

“They’re behaving rather decently. I’m to carry on there as manager—for the present, at any rate. As a matter of fact, I’d rather have got right away—