254 GARRYOWEN 



' and that's tuppence too much, but you can keep 

 the change.' With that she called an old gentle- 

 man up with a red face, and then Mr Smith came 

 and took me by the arm, and out we went — " 



" And the sixpence? " 



" Faith, I've got it still in me pocket." 



" How awfully amusing! But look, Mr Smith 

 has got us a cab. Thanks, no, I never take 

 gentlemen's arms; it is quite imnecessary." 



They took their seats in the taxi. Miss Hitchen 

 and Mr Dashwood in the back seat, Mr Giveen 

 sitting opposite to Miss Hitchen. 



" The Albany, Piccadilly end," said Mr Dash- 

 wood to the driver, and they started. 



Before they had well cleared the precincts of 

 the station. Miss Hitchen was ahve to the fact 

 that Mr Giveen was " making eyes at her," ogHng 

 her. Mr Dashwood noted the same fact, and 

 with his elbow touched his companion's arm as 

 if to implore her patience. To have stopped 

 the taxi-cab and kicked Mr Giveen out of it would 

 have been apples of gold in pictures of silver to 

 Mr Dashwood, but he controlled himself, contem- 

 plating French's possible salvation as a Buddhist 

 controls himseK by contemplating Nirvana. 



At the Piccadilly end of the Albany the taxi- 

 cab drew up, and Miss Hitchen, who was on the 

 kerb side, aHghted hurriedly. She stood on the 

 pavement waiting, whilst Mr Dashwood paid the 

 driver off, and then the three entered the Albany. 

 Mr Dashwood's rooms were situated haK-way up, 



