formed his good-looking, generally genial, countenance
into something which was, for the moment, very
disagreeable.

"What can that be?" he said to his wife. "Did
you not put plainly on every card 'Entrance by
Market Row,' Polly?"

"Yes," she said, a little frightened by his look. "It
was most carefully put in every case, Manfred."

The knocking had stopped now, as if the person
outside expected the door to open. Husband and
wife went forward.

"Who can it be?" said Mrs. Hegner uneasily.

And then her question was answered.

The voice was clear and silvery. "It's Miss Haworth!
Can I come in and speak to you a moment,
Mr. Hegner, or has the meeting already begun?"

"Why, it's the young lady from the Deanery!"
exclaimed Manfred Hegner in a relieved voice; and
both he and his wife began hastily unlocking and
unbarring the great plate-glass doors.

The unbidden, unexpected visitor stepped forward
into the shop, and Mrs. Hegner eagerly noted the
cut and shape of the prettily draped pale blue silk
evening coat, and tried to gain some notion of the
evening gown beneath.

"I'm so glad to be in time -- I mean before your
meeting has begun. How very nice it all looks!"
The speaker cast an approving glance on the rout
chairs, on the table at the top of the room, on the
counter where steamed, even now, the fragrant coffee.
"The Dean has asked me to bring a message --
of course quite an informal message, Mr. Hegner.

[[65]]

p064 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p065w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p066

v?